American golden plover

Introduction: The American golden plover (Pluvialis dominica) inhabits coastal wetlands with dry vegetation as well as sandy beaches. They feed singly or in loose flocks when defending their territory. These plovers were first described in Santo Domingo, the former name of Hispaniola in the Caribbean Sea.

Distribution: Swakop River Lagoon.

Diet: Probes in mud and sand in a typical plover run-stop-search routine for mainly invertebrates.

Description: Long-legged shorebird related to oystercatchers, avocets and stilts. Colourful plumage of blackish brown crown and upper parts with extensive golden mottling.

Breeding: Breeds in North America. Females lay between 2 and 4 patterned eggs with incubation performed by both adults in a scrape in the ground.

Size: 25cm.

Weight: 190g.

Wingspan: 70cm