American Golden Plover vs Spot-breasted Lapwing

Pluvialis dominica compared with Vanellus melanocephalus

Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute American Golden Plover Spot-breasted Lapwing
Scientific Name Pluvialis dominica Vanellus melanocephalus
Order Charadriiformes Charadriiformes
Family Charadriidae Charadriidae
Conservation Status Least Concern Least Concern
Length
Wingspan 36.4 cm (14.3 in) 46.9 cm (18.5 in)
Weight 154.33333333333334 g (5.44 oz) 213.5 g (7.53 oz)
Diet -- --
Clutch Size 3-4 4
Population Trend

Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

American Golden Plover only

Spot-breasted Lapwing only

None

Conservation Status

Least Concern

American Golden Plover

Least Concern

Spot-breasted Lapwing

About These Birds

American Golden Plover

American Golden Plover (Pluvialis dominica) is a medium 24–28 cm plover and epic migrant. Golden-spotted brown above; bold black underparts and white flank stripe in breeding plumage. Breeds on Arctic tundra of Canada and Alaska; migrates to South American pampas, traveling up to 25,000 km annually via transoceanic routes.

Spot-breasted Lapwing

Spot-breasted Lapwing: 28–30 cm, Ethiopian highland endemic lapwing with a black head and breast spotted white, and red legs. Restricted to high-altitude moorland and montane grassland above 1,800 m in Ethiopia. Insectivorous. Sedentary; rare and little-studied. Declining due to overgrazing and agricultural encroachment.

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