European Golden Plover
European Golden PloverEuropean Golden PloverEuropean Golden PloverEuropean Golden Plover

European Golden Plover

Pluvialis apricaria

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
10–20% · With luck
overall probability at Wadden Sea National Park
2,067 Verified records at Wadden Sea National Park
September Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

The European golden plover (Pluvialis apricaria), also known as the Eurasian golden plover, greater golden plover, or just the golden plover within Europe, is a relatively large species of plover. This species is similar to two other golden plovers, the American golden plover, Pluvialis dominica, and Pacific golden plover, Pluvialis fulva, which are both slightly smaller, slimmer and longer-legged than European golden plover, and both have grey rather than white axillary (armpit) feathers (visible in flight, and when the bird stretches its wings on the ground). Wikipedia →

10–20% of wildlife watchers report a European Golden Plover sighting in Wadden Sea National Park, based on 2,067 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Wadden Sea National Park

Black-bellied Plover
VU

Black-bellied Plover

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pluvialis squatarola

10–20% · With luck
American Golden-Plover
LC

American Golden-Plover

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pluvialis dominica

<5% · Rare
Pacific Golden-Plover
LC

Pacific Golden-Plover

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pluvialis fulva

Insufficient data
Northern Lapwing
NT

Northern Lapwing

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Vanellus vanellus

40–50% · Likely
Common Ringed Plover
LC

Common Ringed Plover

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Charadrius hiaticula

20–30% · Possible
Red-wattled Lapwing
LC Endemic

Red-wattled Lapwing

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Vanellus indicus

Insufficient data
Kentish Plover
LC

Kentish Plover

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Charadrius alexandrinus

<5% · Rare
Eurasian Dotterel

Eurasian Dotterel

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Charadrius morinellus

<5% · Rare
Sociable Lapwing
CR

Sociable Lapwing

Bird

Vanellus gregarius

Insufficient data
Greater Sandplover
LC

Greater Sandplover

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Charadrius leschenaultii

Insufficient data
Black-headed Gull

Black-headed Gull

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Chroicocephalus ridibundus

60–70% · Likely
European Herring Gull
LC

European Herring Gull

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Larus argentatus

50–60% · Likely

📅 Monthly Probability

10–20
Jan
10–20
Feb
10–20
Mar
10–20
Apr
5–10
May
<5
Jun
10–20
Jul
30–40
Aug
30–40
Sep
20–30
Oct
10–20
Nov
10–20
Dec

☀️ When They're Spotted

Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)

☀️Diurnal
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is)  ·  parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Probability
1 Thingvellir National Park 🇮🇸 Iceland
50–60%
2 Vatnajokull National Park 🇮🇸 Iceland
40–50%
3 Wadden Sea National Park 🇩🇪 Germany
10–20%
4 Kiskunság National Park 🇭🇺 Hungary
5–10%
5 Doñana National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
5–10%
6 Biebrza National Park 🇵🇱 Poland
5–10%
7 Cairngorms National Park 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
<5%
8 Fertő-Hanság National Park 🇭🇺 Hungary
<5%
9 Hortobágy National Park 🇭🇺 Hungary
<5%
10 Monfragüe National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
<5%
11 Snowdonia National Park 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
<5%
12 Białowieża National Park 🇵🇱 Poland
<5%
13 Pyrénées National Park 🇫🇷 France
<5%
14 Bavarian Forest National Park 🇩🇪 Germany
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a European Golden Plover in Wadden Sea National Park?

About 17% of wildlife watchers report a European Golden Plover sighting in Wadden Sea National Park, based on 2,067 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see European Golden Plover in Wadden Sea National Park?

September has the highest sighting rate for European Golden Plover in Wadden Sea National Park in our monthly data.

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