Pluvialis fulva | Pacific golden-plover | kōlea
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- Sherman Wing
Regular Migrant
Other Names: kolea
Commonly seen during the winter months, the kōlea, or Pacific golden-plover is found on lawns, golf courses, fields, and even rooftops. They are less than a foot long and you’ll most likely seem them in their golden mottled feathers. But as they ready themselves for their long journey back to Alaska in May, they put on their “tuxedos” of black and white feathers down their front. In the past, skilled Hawaiians would catch them and enjoy their delicious meat, especially when traveling far inland.
The map below shows hotspots along our birding trails where you might see this bird. Learn more by visiting our species profile page for kōlea.
Hotspots for Pacific golden-plover
- Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge | Details for Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge
- Māhā’ulepū Heritage Trail | Details for Māhā’ulepū Heritage Trail
- Salt Pond Beach Park | Details for Salt Pond Beach Park
- Kawaiʻele State Waterbird Sanctuary | Details for Kawaiʻele State Waterbird Sanctuary
- Nuʻupia Pond | Details for Nuʻupia Pond
- Betty Bliss Memorial Overlook | Details for Betty Bliss Memorial Overlook
- Kapiʻolani Park | Details for Kapiʻolani Park
- Paikō Lagoon Wildlife Sanctuary | Details for Paikō Lagoon Wildlife Sanctuary
- Makapuʻu Point Lighthouse Trail | Details for Makapuʻu Point Lighthouse Trail
- Kawainui Marsh | Details for Kawainui Marsh
- Lāʻie Point State Wayside Park | Details for Lāʻie Point State Wayside Park
- Lānaʻi Lookout | Details for Lānaʻi Lookout
- James Campbell National Wildlife Refuge | Details for James Campbell National Wildlife Refuge
- Waimea Valley | Details for Waimea Valley
- Keālia Pond National Wildlife Refuge | Details for Keālia Pond National Wildlife Refuge
- Kanahā Pond State Wildlife Sanctuary | Details for Kanahā Pond State Wildlife Sanctuary
- SIDE TRIP: Wai‘ānapanpa State Park | Details for SIDE TRIP: Wai‘ānapanpa State Park
- Kahakapao Recreation Area | Details for Kahakapao Recreation Area
- Polipoli Spring State Recreation Area | Details for Polipoli Spring State Recreation Area
- Waikamoi Preserve (The Nature Conservancy-PRIVATE) | Details for Waikamoi Preserve (The Nature Conservancy-PRIVATE)
- Hosmer Grove (Haleakalā National Park) | Details for Hosmer Grove (Haleakalā National Park)
- Keāhole Point | Details for Keāhole Point
- Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historic Park | Details for Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historic Park
- Makāula -‘O‘oma Trails | Details for Makāula -‘O‘oma Trails
- Pu‘u Wa‘awa‘a ʻŌhiʻa Trail | Details for Pu‘u Wa‘awa‘a ʻŌhiʻa Trail
- Waiki‘i (off Old Saddle Road) | Details for Waiki‘i (off Old Saddle Road)
- Palila Forest Discovery Trail | Details for Palila Forest Discovery Trail
- Pu‘u Huluhulu Trail | Details for Pu‘u Huluhulu Trail
- Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō Trail | Details for Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō Trail
- Kaulana Manu Nature Trail | Details for Kaulana Manu Nature Trail
- Kaūmana Trail | Details for Kaūmana Trail
- Wailoa River State Park | Details for Wailoa River State Park
- Loko Waka Pond | Details for Loko Waka Pond
Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge
Coastal
Māhā’ulepū Heritage Trail
Coastal
Salt Pond Beach Park
Coastal
Kawaiʻele State Waterbird Sanctuary
Wetland
Nuʻupia Pond
Wetland
Betty Bliss Memorial Overlook
Wetland
Kapiʻolani Park
Pasture and grasslands
Paikō Lagoon Wildlife Sanctuary
Wetland
Makapuʻu Point Lighthouse Trail
Coastal
Kawainui Marsh
Wetland
Lāʻie Point State Wayside Park
Coastal
Lānaʻi Lookout
Coastal
James Campbell National Wildlife Refuge
Wetland
Waimea Valley
WetlandWet forest
Keālia Pond National Wildlife Refuge
Wetland
Kanahā Pond State Wildlife Sanctuary
Wetland
SIDE TRIP: Wai‘ānapanpa State Park
Coastal
Kahakapao Recreation Area
Wet forest
Polipoli Spring State Recreation Area
Dry forest
Waikamoi Preserve (The Nature Conservancy-PRIVATE)
Wet forest
Hosmer Grove (Haleakalā National Park)
Dry forest
Keāhole Point
Coastal
Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historic Park
Wetland
Makāula -‘O‘oma Trails
Wet forest
Pu‘u Wa‘awa‘a ʻŌhiʻa Trail
Pasture and grasslandsDry forest
Waiki‘i (off Old Saddle Road)
Pasture and grasslands
Palila Forest Discovery Trail
Dry forest
Pu‘u Huluhulu Trail
Dry forest
Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō Trail
Wet forest
Kaulana Manu Nature Trail
Wet forest
Kaūmana Trail
Wet forest
Wailoa River State Park
Wetland
Loko Waka Pond
Wetland
