American Golden-Plover

Pluvialis dominica

Silhouette: Emily Willoughby · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered

KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
PhylumChordata (Chordates)
ClassAves (Birds)
OrderCharadriiformes (Shorebirds and Allies)
FamilyCharadriidae (Plovers and Lapwings)
GenusPluvialis (Golden Plovers and Grey Plover)
SpeciesPluvialis dominica (American Golden-Plover)

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

at Great Smoky Mountains National Park

1 Verified sightings at Great Smoky Mountains National Park From 2019 to 2026

586 Verified sightings across all 38 parks From 2019 to 2026

☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

About the American Golden-Plover

The American golden plover (Pluvialis dominica) is a medium-sized plover. The genus name is Latin and means relating to rain, from pluvia, "rain". It was believed that golden plovers flocked when rain was imminent. The species name dominica refers to Santo Domingo, now Hispaniola, in the West Indies.

Measurements: Length: 24–28 cm (9+1⁄2–11 in) Weight: 122–194 g (4+5⁄16–6+13⁄16 oz) Wingspan: 65–67 cm (25+1⁄2–26+1⁄2 in) The breeding adult American golden plover has a black face, neck, breast, and belly, with a white crown and nape that extends to the side of the breast. The back is mottled black and white with pale, gold spots. The breeding female is similar, but with less black. When in winter plumage, both sexes have grey-brown upperparts, pale grey-brown underparts, and a whitish eyebrow. The head is small, along with the bill.

It is similar to two other golden plovers, European and Pacific. The American golden plover is smaller, slimmer and relatively longer-legged than European golden plover (Pluvialis apricaria) which also has white axillary (armpit) feathers. It is more similar to Pacific golden plover (Pluvialis fulva) with which it shares grey axillary feathers... Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Charadrius vociferus

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Calidris fuscicollis

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Calidris alba

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Larus delawarensis

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Actitis macularius

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Scolopax minor

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Tringa solitaria

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Gallinago delicata

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Calidris minutilla

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Calidris alpina

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Calidris pusilla

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Tringa melanoleuca

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

See all 12 relatives Show fewer

Global Distribution

Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.

Parks Where Found

#	Park	Country	Daily sighting probability
1	Paracas National Reserve	🇵🇪 Peru	~10%
2	Jaragua National Park	🇩🇴 Dominican Republic	<5%
3	Celestún Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	<5%
4	Lauca National Park	🇨🇱 Chile	<5%
5	Camargue	🇫🇷 France	<5%
6	Wrangell-St. Elias National Park	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
7	Madidi National Park	🇧🇴 Bolivia	<5%
8	Point Pelee National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	<5%
9	Everglades National Park	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
10	Table Mountain National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	<5%
11	Denali National Park	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
12	Iberá National Park	🇦🇷 Argentina	<5%
13	La Amistad International Park (Panama)	🇵🇦 Panama	<5%
14	Acadia National Park	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
15	Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve	🇪🇨 Ecuador	<5%
16	Galápagos Islands	🇪🇨 Ecuador	<5%
17	Wadden Sea National Park	🇩🇪 Germany	<5%
18	Shenandoah National Park	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
19	Marino Ballena National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	Insufficient data
20	Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	Insufficient data
21	Bahía de Loreto National Park	🇲🇽 Mexico	Insufficient data
22	Wood Buffalo National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	Insufficient data
23	El Impenetrable National Park	🇦🇷 Argentina	Insufficient data
24	Isla del Coco National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	Insufficient data
25	Coiba National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	Insufficient data
26	Península Valdés	🇦🇷 Argentina	Insufficient data
27	Palo Verde National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	Insufficient data
28	Katmai National Park	🇺🇸 United States	Insufficient data
29	Caroni Swamp	🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago	Insufficient data
30	Gros Morne National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	Insufficient data
31	Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	Insufficient data
32	Amacayacu National Natural Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	Insufficient data
33	Las Baulas Marine National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	Insufficient data
34	Parque Estadual Encontro das Águas	🇧🇷 Brazil	Insufficient data
35	Garden Route National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	Insufficient data
36	Snowdonia National Park	🇬🇧 United Kingdom	Insufficient data
37	Corcovado National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	Insufficient data
38	Bastimentos Island National Marine Park	🇵🇦 Panama	Insufficient data

← Back to Great Smoky Mountains National Park

American Golden-Plover

About the American Golden-Plover

Recent sightings of American Golden-Plover in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Closest Relatives at Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Killdeer

White-rumped Sandpiper

Sanderling

Ring-billed Gull

Spotted Sandpiper

American Woodcock

Solitary Sandpiper

Wilson's Snipe

Least Sandpiper

Dunlin

Semipalmated Sandpiper

Greater Yellowlegs

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found