American Golden Plover vs Masked Lapwing
Pluvialis dominica compared with Vanellus miles
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | American Golden Plover | Masked Lapwing |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Pluvialis dominica | Vanellus miles |
| Order | Charadriiformes | Charadriiformes |
| Family | Charadriidae | Charadriidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 36.4 cm (14.3 in) | 49.1 cm (19.3 in) |
| Weight | 154.33333333333334 g (5.44 oz) | 310.0 g (10.93 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | 3-4 | 3-4 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
American Golden Plover only
None
Masked Lapwing only
None
Conservation Status
Least Concern
American Golden Plover
Least Concern
Masked 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.
Masked Lapwing
Masked Lapwing: 30–37 cm, large noisy Australasian lapwing with yellow facial wattles and sharp wing spurs. Common resident in open grassland, parks, and wetland margins throughout Australia, New Zealand, and New Guinea. Famously aggressive in defence of ground nest. Feeds on invertebrates. Largely sedentary and adaptable to urban environments.