The American Golden Plover is one of the four “elliptical” migrant shorebirds.
Black-bellied Plover
Mountain Plover
The Mountain Plover is often difficult to photograph or even to see. Their preferred habitat is large short-grass or plowed fields like this turf farm near San Angelo. Their fawn colored upper parts and white under parts are distinctive.
Comparisons
This is a composite photo. Note the bulkier build, thicker neck, thicker bill and shorter wings of the Black-bellied on the left.
This is a composite photo. The American Golden on the right has a more slender bill, a sleeker build, longer wings, a more prominent supercilium and a more petite, dove-like head.
The Black-bellied Plover is a fairly large shorebird. It is compared here to a Eastern Willet.
