Pacific Golden Plover

Pluvialis fulva is a long-distance Arctic migrant that reaches New Zealand each summer. It differs from New Zealand dotterels through its slimmer build, longer wings and gold-spangled upperparts. Non-breeding birds are golden-brown above and pale below with a strong eyebrow. Breeding plumage has a black face and belly bordered by white.

Small numbers visit estuaries and open coastal ground throughout New Zealand. They breed in Arctic tundra and migrate across the Pacific. They eat worms, insects, crustaceans and molluscs using run-and-pause foraging. Migrants often associate with other plovers on tidal flats.

The New Zealand classification is Migrant. Pūkorokoro Miranda and Manawatū Estuary regularly host small numbers in austral summer.