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

European Golden Plover

Pluvialis apricaria

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
50–60% · Likely
overall probability at Thingvellir National Park
125 Verified records at Thingvellir National Park
June 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 →

50–60% of wildlife watchers report a European Golden Plover sighting in Thingvellir National Park, based on 125 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Thingvellir National Park

Common Ringed Plover
LC

Common Ringed Plover

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Charadrius hiaticula

5–10% · Rare
Black-headed Gull

Black-headed Gull

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Chroicocephalus ridibundus

90–100% · Very likely
Common Snipe
LC

Common Snipe

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Gallinago gallinago

60–70% · Likely
Whimbrel
LC

Whimbrel

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Numenius phaeopus

60–70% · Likely
Arctic Tern
LC

Arctic Tern

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Sterna paradisaea

60–70% · Likely
Lesser Black-backed Gull
LC

Lesser Black-backed Gull

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Larus fuscus

50–60% · Likely
European Oystercatcher
NT

European Oystercatcher

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Haematopus ostralegus

50–60% · Likely
Red-necked Phalarope
LC

Red-necked Phalarope

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Phalaropus lobatus

40–50% · Likely
Black-tailed Godwit
NT

Black-tailed Godwit

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Limosa limosa

40–50% · Likely
Common Redshank
LC

Common Redshank

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Tringa totanus

40–50% · Possible
Great Black-backed Gull
LC

Great Black-backed Gull

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Larus marinus

10–20% · With luck
European Herring Gull
LC

European Herring Gull

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Larus argentatus

10–20% · With luck

📅 Monthly Probability

50–60
Jan
50–60
Feb
50–60
Mar
50–60
Apr
50–60
May
60–70
Jun
30–40
Jul
40–50
Aug
50–60
Sep
50–60
Oct
50–60
Nov
50–60
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 Thingvellir National Park?

About 53% of wildlife watchers report a European Golden Plover sighting in Thingvellir National Park, based on 125 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

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

June has the highest sighting rate for European Golden Plover in Thingvellir National Park in our monthly data.

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