Plovers of Barbados on World Plover Appreciation Day

On September 16, we celebrated World Plover Appreciation Day, a special occasion to show our love and support for the Plover family of shorebirds. These birds face many threats in their habitats, which are often shared with humans.  In our region, Birds Caribbean is an organization that works to protect and educate about Caribbean birds, including the two most endangered plover species in our region: the Snowy Plover and the Piping Plover. They offer many tools and resources to help identify and assist these vulnerable birds.

While our island does not have a nesting species of plover, it is a stop-over point for resting and refueling for many species during migration.  The first step to help protect them is to know them and their habitats and that is what we attempt to do below.  Next, give them a bit of space and respect by keeping a safe distance, and keeping your dog on a leash whenever a plover is nearby to minimize any disturbance while sharing the beach, park, etc., or even hunting mashes with them, even if just for one day.   

Here are the plovers you may see on our island, from the very common to the very rare.

Common Plovers of Barbados

 

Semipalmated Plover

Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus) are the most common plover species to visit our island.  These tiny birds, locally called Ring Necks, can be found in various ecosystems across the island, from mudflats to beaches. 

A molting Black-bellied Plover

The Black-bellied Plover (Pluvialis squatarola) is the largest plover species to regularly visit and stay on our island. It gets its name, in the  Americas, from its black underside that it shows during the breeding season. When it is not breeding, it has a more greyish colour, which is why in Euroasia it is referred to as Grey Plover.  Locally it is known as a Squealier because of its loud and high-pitched call (example of call from xeno-canto.org ). This bird can be seen all year round on the island, where it likes to rest in wetlands, but prefers grassy areas such as golf courses, playing fields etc.

A juvenile American Golden Plover

The American Golden Plover (Pluvialis dominica) is another large plover that often visits the island. While uncommon as a long-stay (wintering) visitor it comes in large numbers when it migrates southward when it is actively hunted, but less so during the northern movement. Like the other species, and more so this species, loves grassy areas.  It can be seen, especially at this time of year, on golf courses and other manicured open fields like playing fields, and polo fields but is also found in plowed fields and other gardened areas.

Scarce to Rare  Plovers Species Seen on Barbados

Collared Plovers

Collared Plovers (Charadrius collaris) are the thinnest of the plovers species that visit our island.  It visits yearly in small numbers, between 1-4 per year, normally between June and September.  it is a common resident of southern Mexico to the northern half of South America. It prefers dry areas, and open sandy savannas and returns yearly to the rocky cliffs between Animal Flower Cave and Coles Cave St. Lucy.

Killdeer

Another yearly but in small number plover visitor is the Killdeer (Charadrius vociferous). This medium-sized, double-banded plover got its name, not because it hunts deers, because it does not, but from its repetitive call of "kil-deer". It is a very vocal bird, normally heard before it is seen. 

Wilson's Plover

Wilson's Plover (Charadrius wilsonia) is another small plover but with a large bill.  It prefers coastal habitats including sandy and pebble beaches, sandbars, and mudflats, and along coastal lagoons. So it is not surprising that a large percentage of the sightings here was at Chancery Lane's Swamp, in Christ Church

Pacific Golden-Plover 

The Pacific Golden-Plover (Pluvialis fulva) is the rarest and prettiest of the plover family to visit our shores.  An almost yearly visitor now, in singles, this bird breeds in Alaska and Siberia and migrates south to Asia, Australasia, and Pacific islands. Until 2008, there were only three recorded sightings on the island but from 2017 to this year at least one bird has been recorded. This is truly a golden, golden plover and a sight to behold. 

 

Three other very rare plovers that are worth mentioning are:

• Common Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula) - last recorded on the island in 2008 but maybe overlooked because of its close resemblance to the Semipalmated Plover.
• Snowy Plover (Charadrius nivosus) - last recorded on the island was in 1984. It closely resembles the Collared Plover but with a paler plumage.  It is listed on the (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species where it is categorized as Near Threatened.  
• Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus) - The only record of this plover on the island was in 1957.  This tiny plover is also listed on the (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species where it is categorized as Near Threatened.