European Golden Plover
Pluvialis apricaria
Beautifully spotted with gold and black on its upperparts, European Golden Plovers form impressive flocks in winter. In summer, adults show a black face, belly, and breast bordered with white. During autumn and winter, they may gather on fields or shorelines around Guernsey, sometimes mixing with Lapwings.
- Habitat: Coastal fields, estuaries, and grassy farmland during migration and winter.
- When to See: Passage and winter visitor, typically arriving from late autumn and departing in early spring.
- Diet / Food: Worms, beetles, insects, and some plant material; they peck prey from the surface or just below the soil.
- Length: 26–29 cm