The
genus Pluvialis was described by the French zoologist
Mathurin Jacques Brisson in 1760 with the
European golden plover (
Pluvialis apricaria) as the
type species. The genus name is
Latin and means relating to rain, from
pluvia, "rain". It was believed that they flocked when rain was imminent. The genus contains four species: The American and Pacific golden plovers were formerly considered
conspecific as "lesser golden plover". ==References==