Date: 4/12/26 8:27 pm From: Lisa Hug via groups.io <lisahug...> Subject: [northbaybirds] Bodega Bay Golden-plover
Hi everyone,
So, this week there has been a golden-plover at Bodega Bay. It was
originally thought to be a Pacific Golden-plover but through some online
discussions, the thinking has now changed to American Golden-plover. I
don't think the bird is still in the harbor. The photographs are not
great but they are on eBird. I changed my ID to AGPL but since the
photos are not great, I may in the end change my ID again to PGPL/AGPL.
One photo on eBird (not mine) does show 4 primaries extending past the
longest tertial - which should be a good field mark for American Golden
Plover (Pacific should only have 2 or 3 primaries extending beyond the
longest tertial). But, then there is the question: What if the longest
tertial was actually still growing? Then it could expose more
primaries, right?
Anyway, technical jargon aside, the bird is very most likely an American
Golden-plover, but given that the bird was always far away and in dim
light - calling it an American/Pacific might be the best call of all!
Happy Spring Birding! Go look at some colorful spring migrants! Like
Orioles or Kingbirds or something.
