American Golden-Plover (Pluvialis dominica), Lake Cochise, Willcox, Cochise County

This American Golden-Plover was found and photographed by Scott Olmstead on 04 April 2017

Casual migrant (less than 50 records for the state), being particularly scarce in spring. Willcox has hosted a majority of the records for Southeast Arizona. 

The similar Black-bellied Plover is eliminated by this bird's thin bill, dark cap, long wings, and more distinct pale supercilium. Separating this bird from the very similar Pacific Golden-Plover is much more difficult (see here), but there are only two records of Pacific for Arizona (plus a third that is currently circulating). Identification as American Golden-Plover hinges mainly on the duller, grayer plumage; as well as the length of the wings.

04 April 2017, photo by Scott Olmstead

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