Pluvialis is a genus of plovers, a group of wading birds comprising four species that breed in the temperate or Arctic Northern Hemisphere.
The genus name is Latin and means relating to rain, from pluvia, "rain". It was believed the birds flocked when rain was imminent.

1/ Pacific golden plover (Choi choi vàng, Pluvialis fulva)
 The specific epithet is also from Latin and means 'tawny' or 'yellowish-brown'.

2/ grey plover or black-bellied plover (Choi choi xám, Pluvialis squatarola) 
The species name squatarola is a Latinised version of Sgatarola, a Venetian name for some kind of plover.