Magellanic Plover
Pluvianellus socialis
Uncommon and local in Patagonia, where it favors stony lakeshores; also adjacent coastlines, mainly in winter. Easily overlooked; its mostly gray plumage helps it blend in. Usually in pairs or small groups, feeding mainly along shorelines or wading in shallows; sometimes associates loosely with migrant White-rumped and Baird’s Sandpipers. Stocky shape, plain dove-gray upperparts, and bright pinkish legs are a distinctive combination. In flight shows a white wing stripe, like many other shorebirds. Placed in its own family; more closely related to sheathbills than to plovers.
Identification
This species is in its structure and habits much like a turnstone, but it cannot be confused with any other wader species. Its upperparts and breast are pale grey, and the rest of the underparts are white. It has short red legs, a black bill and red eyes. In young birds, the eyes and legs are yellowish in colour, and the plumage is grey overall with scaling. The call is a dovelike coo.
Taxonomy
It was long placed in with the other plovers in the family Charadriidae; however, behavioural evidence suggested they were distinct, and molecular studies confirmed this, suggesting that they are actually more closely related to the sheathbills, a uniquely Antarctic family. As such it is now placed in its own family, Pluvianellidae.
- Scientific name
- Pluvianellus socialis
- Authority
- Gray, GR, 1846
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Family
- Pluvianellidae
- Genus
- Pluvianellus
Range and habitat
This species is not a long-distance migrant, although some birds move further north in southern Argentina in winter. The species breeds inland and then moves to the coast during the winter, particularly to estuaries. One of their preferred areas during winter is in Puerto Madryn and Península Valdes, Chubut, Argentina (Jehl 1975).
- Breeding range
- SA : inland w Santa Cruz Province (sw Argentina), se Magallanes Province (far se Chile) and n, c Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego
- Non-breeding range
- coastal ec, se Argentina to se Buenos Aires Province
- Migration
- Complete migrants
Behavior
This species breeds near water, usually saline lakes but there are reports of nests near rivers as well. Pairs defend territories, and both parents share incubation duties. It lays two large eggs on the ground, although usually only one chick survives. One unique aspect of its behaviour and physiology is its method of feeding its chicks. Chicks are fed by regurgitating food stored in the crop, this species being the only wader to do so.<p>Magellanic plovers feed on small invertebrates, picked from the ground, or from under pebbles, again like a turnstone. They have been observed collecting worms in the bill in a similar fashion to a puffin.
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Chestnut-collared Swallow
Petrochelidon rufocollaris
Handsome swallow restricted to relatively dry regions of western Ecuador and western Peru. Plumage is blue and white with chestnut collar, breast band, sides, rump, and forehead. Similar to Cliff Swallow, which is a rare migrant within the range of Chestnut-collared, but note the chestnut breast band and lack of white on the forehead. Most often encountered around cities and towns, where it nests colonially in the eaves of buildings.
Cinderella Waxbill
Glaucestrilda thomensis
Pretty little gray waxbill with a black tail and a red rump which is conspicuous in flight. The male has red and black under the tail, while the female is much paler and grayer below. Both sexes have pink in the bill. Found in arid woodland and savanna, including mopane woodland. Shy and inconspicuous; usually in small flocks. Calls include rising whistles. Very similar to Black-tailed Waxbill, but prefers drier habitat and is paler gray, with pink on the bill.
Slaty-backed Forest-Falcon
Micrastur mirandollei
Forest-falcons are well-named raptors; they are found almost exclusively inside the forest. They are generally slender and long-tailed, with long legs. Slaty-backed is clean-looking, smooth gray above and white below. Juveniles have a scaly pattern on breast. Similar to several other raptors, including Bicolored Hawk; note more extensive yellow skin around eye. As with all forest-falcons, more often heard than seen, and more easily identified by voice. Sings from the canopy, mostly at dawn and dusk. Listen for series of mournful “aww” notes, similar in tone to Collared Forest-Falcon (but Collared typically gives single notes).
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