In breeding plumage, a golden-spangled back contrasts with a black breast and belly. It uses uplands in summer and lowlands in winter.
In breeding plumage, the gold-spangled back contrasts with the black breast and belly.
In Britain and Ireland, it breeds in uplands in summer and may form large flocks on lowland farmland in winter.
In Britain the typical clutch is four eggs, incubated mainly by the female, with the male sometimes taking a turn. Incubation lasts 28–31 days.
In Britain the chicks hatch covered in down and can leave the nest on foot. They fledge at 25–33 days.
In winter plumage the black areas of summer are replaced by light brown and white. It stands upright and runs in short bursts.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.