Population and Distribution
Population Trend:
Wider Countryside Report
Regional Trends:
No regional trends available
Distribution:
Atlas Maps
(Local Atlases )
BBS Maps
British Population Size:
Summer:
23 thousand pairs
in 1981-84
Note: Best estimate
Winter:
400 thousand individuals
in 2006/07
 
First Record:
10th Century
[Fossil evidence from
Ipswichian (last) interglacial, c. 125,000 yr ago]
Conservation Status:
AMBER
because
Important Non-breeding Population
Previous Assessments:
2002-2007
GREEN
1996-2001
AMBER
Races of Concern:
Habitat Occupancy (in the Breeding Season):
Common in:
Bog, Grass/Heath, Marsh
Relative Frequency in Each Habitat:
European Population Size:
Summer:
436 to 645 thousand pairs
Population Assesment from Birds in Europe
Distribution in Europe
Listed on the Appendices/Schedules of:
WCA(II,III), WBD(I, II*&III*), Bern(III), Bonn(II), AEWA
Survey Results:
BirdTrack
Winter Farmland Bird Survey
Wetland Bird Survey Alerts
Breeding and Survival
Egg Size:
52 x 35 mm
Egg Weight:
33.0 g (of which 5 % is shell)
Number of Nest Records:
14
(more would be welcome!)
Clutch Size:
4 eggs
3.94 ± 0.28 (2 - 4) N = 527
Incubation:
28- 31 days
by the:
Female (occ. Male)
Fledging:
25 - 33days
as:
Precocial, downy
First Clutches Laid:
24 Apr (3 Apr - 6 Jun)
Number of Broods:
1
Trends in Breeding Productivity
Number Ringed:
119
(Annual Totals )
Adult Survival:
0.730
Juvenile Survival:
No data
Age at First Breeding:
1
year
Typical Lifespan:
4
years
Maximum Recorded Age:
12 years 0 months 29 days (set in 1978)
Summary of Ringing Recoveries
Biometrics
Ring Size:
D
Wing Length
Adult:
193.5 ± 5.4
Range
186 - 202 mm, N =213
Juvenile:
189.8 ± 5.9
181 - 199 mm, N =98
Male:
Insufficient Data
Female:
Insufficient Data
Weight
Adult:
208.5 ± 18.44
Range
180.0 - 236.0 g , N =224
Juvenile:
209.2 ± 20.90
172.0 - 248.0 g , N =93
Male:
Insufficient Data
Female:
Insufficient Data
Source:
British Trust for Ornithology (2005) Ringing Scheme data
Other Names
European Golden Plover
Gaelic:
Welsh:
Cwtiad Aur
Danish:
Hjejle
Dutch:
Goudplevier
Finnish:
Kapustarinta
French:
Pluvier doré
German:
Goldregenpfeifer
Hungarian:
Aranylile
Icelandic:
Heiðlóa
Irish:
Feadóg Bhuí
Italian:
Piviere dorato
Norwegian:
Heilo
Polish:
Siewka zlota
Portuguese:
Tarambola-dourada
Spanish:
Chorlito dorado
Swedish:
Ljungpipare
Local Names: Whistling / Hill Plover
Collective Noun: Stand (or Wing in flight)
For More Information...
Books and Monographs:
Byrkjedal, I. & Thompson, D. 1998 Tundra plovers Poyser, London
[598.612 BYR]
Nethersole-Thompson, D. & M. 1986 Waders, their breeding, haunts and watchers Poyser, London
[598.6 NET]
See Also:
Find scientific papers on Google Scholar
or Scirus by clicking the icon
Wikipedia entry
BirdLife species page
Recent sightings and information from BirdGuides
State of the Nations Birds by Chris Mead
BOU Register of Avian Theses entry