Kentish plover

    Charadrius alexandrinus

Castilian: Chorlitejo patinegro

Catalan: Corriol camanegre

Gallego: Píllara das dunas

Euskera: Txirritxo hankabeltza

CLASIFICACIÓN:

Orden: Charadriiformes

Family: Charadriidae

Migratory status: Summer resident

CONSERVATION STATUS:

On the National List of Threatened Species, it appears in the “Of Special Interest” category, except in the Canary Islands, where it appears as “Vulnerable”. In the 2004 edition of the Red Book of Spanish Birds (Libro Rojo de las Aves de España) it is listed as “Vulnerable”.

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THREATS

The recreational use of beaches and coasts and the expansion of urbanised areas, among other things, especially harm the species. Another problem which especially affects species that build their nests on the ground is rooks, foxes, rats, cats and gulls that prey on the nests.

Length / size: 15-17 cm / 42-45 cm

Identification: Small wader with a short bill and black legs that are as long as its body is wide. The mating male's brow and forehead are white, in contrast with his black frontal band, bridle and ear patches, and his grey crown, reddish nape and open black collar. In females, the black parts are dark brown and the reddish nape is not present.

Song: It makes a short "peerrr".

Diet: In interior areas it feeds on insects, while in saltwater areas its diet includes mollusks and crustaceans. Its method of capturing its prey is running and stopping: it detects prey by sight and then runs toward it.

Reproduction: Breeding begins between April and August. The nest is built on the ground, in a depression surrounded by brambles and shells, and it is located near water in open areas. The eggs are cryptic and the chicks move about and feed themselves shortly after hatching, although the adults continue to care for them.

HABITAT

It occupies wet, salty areas, such as sandy beaches or inland lagoons, with little vegetation.

DISTRIBUTION

In Spain: It is distributed in the Canary Islands, the Balearic Islands, and along the peninsula's Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts, in some places along the Galician coast, and in some interior areas of Andalusia and La Mancha.

In Castile and León: Rare breeding populations can be found in the Ebro swamp (Burgos) and Villafáfila (Zamora).

Movements and migrations: It is a partially migratory species. Speciments come from central and western Europe to spend the winter in Spain. The postnuptial migratory passage is rare on the Mediterranean coasts.

POPULATION

In Spain: There is an estimated population of 5000-6000 breeding pairs.

In Castile and León: There is an estimated population of 10 breeding pairs (2000 data).