American Golden-Plover (Pluvialis dominica), Spot Road Farm, Yuma County

This American Golden-Plover was photographed by Brian Johnson on 22 September 2021

Casual migrant in Arizona, and very rare in Yuma County.

Note that slim, small-billed, dove-headed look of a Golden-Plover that helps separate this species from Black-bellied Plover. The prominent supercilium contrasts with the dark cap and overall dull coloration is consistent with American Golden-Plover. The primaries project well past the tail whereas the tertials fall well short of the tail, a characteristic of American Golden-Plover separating this species from the much rarer Pacific Golden-Plover.

22 September 2021, photo by Brian Johnson

All photos are copyrighted© by photographer