Birds of the Upper Cumberland Region: Species Accounts

American Golden-Plover (Pluvialis dominica)

Abundance: Very Uncommon; at least 16 Regional records from 6 counties, 3 in Kentucky and 3 in Tennessee (Map of UCR Distribution); data from the Regional bird-monitoring efforts are too few to determine a trend in the population migrating through the Region (see also Regional Bird-Monitoring Plan).

Status: Transient during spring (5 records) and fall (11 records); videotape and photos (see links below)

Regional High Count: 7 (6 April 2006; Putnam County, Tennessee; Stephen J. Stedman, Nancy S. Layzer; Casteel 2006c).

Information on Records: 

25 September 1966 (1) Barren River Reservoir, Barren County, Kentucky (Russell Starr, George McKinley; Starr 1967).

4 October 1982 (1) Fishing Creek Recreation Area, Pulaski County, Kentucky (Jackie B. Elmore, Sr.; Stamm 1983a).

22 September 1983 (1) Fishing Creek Recreation Area, Pulaski County, Kentucky (Jackie B. Elmore, Sr.; Stamm 1984a).

21 November 1992 (1—basic) Cooley's Pond, Wayne County, Kentucky (Jackie B. Elmore, Sr., Roseanna M. Denton, and Somerset Bird Club).

22–23 September 1993 (1) Fishing Creek Recreation Area, Lake Cumberland, Pulaski County, Kentucky (Jackie B. Elmore, Sr.; Monroe, Stamm, and Stinson 1994a).

16 September 1996 (1—basic) Pulaski County Park, Pulaski County, Kentucky (Roseanna M. Denton).

15 November 1998 (1—basic) Cooley's Pond, Wayne County, Kentucky (Roseanna M. Denton).

23 March 1999 (1—basic) Cooley's Pond, Wayne County, Kentucky (Roseanna M. Denton). 

3 April 2001 (1—basic) Stone Farm, Clay County, Tennessee (Terry M. Campbell videotape [shows bird raising its wings to reveal unmarked axillars).

23–24 October 2001 (1—juvenile) Fishing Creek, Pulaski County, Kentucky  (Roseanna M. Denton).

29 March 2003 (6—basic) Cooley's Pond, Wayne County, Kentucky (Roseanna M. Denton; Palmer-Ball and McNeeley 2003a).

29 August 2005 (1—alternate) Fishing Creek, Pulaski County, Kentucky (Roseanna M. Denton photo; Palmer-Ball and McNeeley 2006a).

6 April 2006 (7—basic, changing to alternate) pond at intersection Lexus Place and Clemmons Rd., Putnam County, Tennessee (Stephen J. Stedman, Nancy S. Layzer photo; Casteel 2006c).

25 October 2006 (1—basic) Cooley's Pond, Wayne County, Kentucky (Roseanna M. Denton photo).

3 September 2008 (1—adult/2—adults) Cooley's Pond/Thurston's Pond, Wayne County, Kentucky (Roseanna M. Denton).

30 March 2014 (2—basic) UT Grasslands Unit, Ted Davis Rd., Cumberland County, Tennessee (Edmund K. LeGrand photo).

Regional Extreme Dates:

    Spring: 23 March 1999 (Wayne County, Kentucky; Roseanna M. Denton)–6 April 2006 (Putnam County, Tennessee; Stephen J. Stedman, Nancy S. Layzer photo; Casteel 2006c).

    Fall: 29 August 2005 (Pulaski County, Kentucky; Roseanna M. Denton photo; Palmer-Ball and McNeeley 2006a)–21 November 1992 (Wayne County, Kentucky; Jackie B. Elmore, Sr., Roseanna M. Denton, Somerset Bird Club).

YardWatch Results 2003 and 2004: No registrations.

Habitat: Extensive mudflats; large short-grass fields, especially if moist.

Remarks: 

Check-lists of Birds for the Counties of the UCR

Check-lists of the birds of each county of the Upper Cumberland Region may be viewed by clicking on the links below. For each county, there are two check-lists: one list that shows the species that have been observed and where possible documented in the county within the larger list for the entire Region; and one list that includes only the species observed in the county with annotations for the date and observers for at least one sighting (the ultimate goal of the latter list will be to include annotations for the very first known Regional observation of each species in that county; this goal is probably one that will take many years to complete, if completion is even a possibility). To see if the species discussed in this species account has been observed in a county, click below or click on the link for the Map of UCR Distribution near the top of the page.

Check-lists of Birds for Some Public Access Birding Sites of the UCR

Check-lists of the birds of some public access birding sites within the Upper Cumberland Region may be viewed via the links below. To see if the species dealt with in this species account has been observed within any of these sites, click on the appropriate link below. See the pages for each county within the Gazetteer for links to additional smaller public access birding sites with check-lists in progress.

Literature Cited