This Golden-Plover Pluvialis sp. was among 1000+ American Golden Plovers and thousands of other shorebirds in some rice fields at the corner of H59 and FM530, NE of Edna, Jackson County, Texas on April 12, 2006:
Only three primary tips are visible beyond the longest tertial, and the wings do not extend very far beyond the tip of the tail:
Note that the non-apical golden marks on the fresh scapulars have a rounded shape - more spot-like than sharply triangular:
Note in the pic below that the head is turned slightly towards the camera, artificially shortening the bill and lengthening the perceived distance between the bill and the eye:
Note the tail pattern above, and compare it to the tail of this Pacific Golden-Plover at the same location and date:
