Friday's Foto

Unlike the closely related Black-bellied Plover, which is abundant during Fall migration, the American Golden-Plover is an uncommon to fairly common migrant through New York State. Their markings are superficially similar to the black-bellied, but on closer examination they are easily separated. Here's a nice photo comparison. The American Golden-Plovers is one of North America's longest distant migrants, breeding in the Arctic tundra and wintering as far South as Patagonia. Typically found stopping off at grassland habitats in New York during migration, this individual was seen along the muddy shore of Gerritsen Creek, Brooklyn.