Species:

Golden Plover (Pluvialis apricaria)

Lesser Spotted Eagle (Clanga pomarina)

Change species:
Main Images:
Length (cm):
26-29
60-65
Wingspan (cm):
67-76
134-159
Weight (gram):
160-280
1100-2000
Size group:
Thrush-size
Bigger than a crow
Main Texts:
Appearance:

Unmistakable in breeding plumage with golden, speckled upperparts and white-bordered black throat and belly. Male generally blacker than female, but due to regional differences, some females may be darker than males from other areas. Juveniles and birds in winter plumage, lacks the black underparts, and could be mistaken for Grey Plover. Differs from that species in more golden coloured back, less heavy bill and neck and by being slightly smaller. In flight easily told apart from Grey Plover, Pacific Golden Plover and American Golden Plover by white axillaries.

Sound:

Most common call at breeding ground a disyllabic, melancholic and wailing whistle with the end falling in pitch. In song flight also a trilling, warbling and cyclic "preecaria-preecaria-preecaria". Contact call a straight, short "kluee".

Contact call at breeding ground:

Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file


Distribution:

Wikipedia: map (se also Xeno-canto below)

Ecology:

Birdlife ecology

Links:

Observation.org Latest observations

Video IBC

Image search Flickr NB! May give other species

Sound search at Xeno-canto

Featherbase

CC

Appearance:

Small eagle with evenly broad wings and relatively short tail. Easily confused with Greater Spotted Eagle (C. clanga). Flight-feathers darker than the pale brown coverts, both on upper- and underwing. Head and body distinctly paler than flight feathers. Conspicuous pale patch at base of inner primaries on upperwing (diffuse only in C. clanga). Double "commas" on underwing, formed by pale base of primaries and primary-coverts (one "comma" in C. clanga). Wings more narrow than C. clanga, which makes the tail look slightly longer. U-shaped white patch at base of tail. Immature birds with white tipped greater and median coverts, forming two narrow wing-bands. Wings "fingered", but 7th finger shorter than in C. clanga (but varies with age). Sours and glides with wings held horizontally, but with characteristic drooping hand (similar to C. clanga).

Sound:

Vocal at breeding ground, and when courting. Short, barking, high-pitched whistles, not unlike a small dog. Slightly higher pitched than C. clanga and with a purer tone, but very similar.

Call:

Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file


Distribution:

Wikipedia: map (se also Xeno-canto below)

Ecology:

Birdlife ecology

Links:

Observation.org Latest observations

Video IBC

Image search Flickr NB! May give other species

Sound search at Xeno-canto

Featherbase

CC

CC-sound:Livon, Licence,Link.

Similar species (image):
Similar species (sound):
Silhouette Group:
Waders
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Raptors
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Several different images of the species
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Several different sounds of the species
Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file
Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file
Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file
Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file