American Golden-Plover (Pluvialis dominica), Higley and Ocotillo Roads Ponds, Maricopa County

This American Golden-Plover was found by Darrel Wilder on 23 November 2015 and photographed by Tyler Loomis on 23 November 2015, by Bernie Howe on 25 November 2015, and by Jim Ripley 27 November 2015

Casual migrant (less than 40 records for the state).

This bird shows the typical slim, small-billed, dove-headed look of an American Golden Plover.  It has a prominent supercilium setting off the dark cap and overall duller coloration that is also typical of this species in its first year.  Finally, the primaries project well past the tail whereas the tertials fall well short of the tail, again a characteristic of American Golden-Plover.

23 November 2015, photo by Tyler Loomis

25 November 2015, photo by Bernie Howe

27 November 2015, photo by Jim Ripley

 

All photos are copyrighted© by photographer