Calidris alba | UAE National Red List of Birds

Taxa
Calidris alba | (Pallas, 1764)
Publication
UAE National Red List of Birds
Location
Countries in Assessment
United Arab Emirates
Country ISO code(s)
ARE
Does the assessment cover a marine EEZ area(s)?
Off
Scope (Assessment)
National
Taxon
Taxonomic Group
Vertebrates
Taxonomic Group Level 2
Birds
Assessed taxon level
Species
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
The majority of occurrences of this species within the UAE are likely to be of migrant individuals on passage to and from the breeding grounds (Pedersen et al. 2017). Numbers peak between April and May and in September. While the species is scarcer in winter, it has been recorded during the entire year (Pedersen et al. 2017). The species occurs mainly along the coastline, but during passage it may also occur at wetlands further inland (Richardson 1990, Aspinall and Porter 2011), and it is also found on near-shore and some offshore islands. Recorded from 50+ sites across the UAE (EAD unpublished data).
Habitats and Ecology
Ecological system type
Terrestrial system
No
Freshwater system
No
Marine system
No
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
During the non-breeding season, this species inhabits sandy beaches and mudflats along the coast (Richardson 1990, Aspinall and Porter 2011). During migration, it is also found further inland along shallow muddy creeks and pools (Richardson 1990). There is no information available about its diet in the UAE; elsewhere during winter, its diet consists of small molluscs, crustaceans, polychaete worms and adult, larval and pupal insects, as well as occasionally fish and carrion (del Hoyo et al. 1996). It forages in small flocks (Richardson 1990, del Hoyo et al. 1996). The species is a long-distance migrant (del Hoyo et al. 1996). It breeds between June and July in the high Arctic on barren, stony tundra (Johnsgard 1981, del Hoyo et al. 1996). During migration, it travels in small flocks mainly via offshore and coastal routes to the wintering grounds along the coastlines of all southern continents (Johnsgard 1981, Richardson 1990, del Hoyo et al. 1996).
Is there a map available in assessment?
Yes
Assessed status
Asessment status in full
Near Threatened
Assessment status abreviation
NT
Assessment status criteria
D1
Assessment rationale/justification
This species has a restricted non-breeding population in the UAE, which qualifies it for listing as Vulnerable (D1). The population is stable within the country. The global population is stable, therefore, the species's status has undergone a regional adjustment down by one category to Near Threatened at the national level.
About the assessment
Assessment year
2019
Assessors/contributors/reviewers listed
UAE National Red List Workshop
Affliation of assessor(s)/contributors/reviewers listed on assessment
Government
IGO
Assessor affiliation specific
Government|IGO
Criteria system
Criteria system specifics
IUCN v3.1 + Regional Guidelines v4.0
Criteria system used
IUCN
Criteria Citation
IUCN. 2012. IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria: Version 3.1, Second edition. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK. iv + 32pp pp. And IUCN. 2012. Guidelines for Application of IUCN Red List Criteria at Regional and National Levels: Version 4.0. Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK: IUCN. iii + 41pp.
Endemism
Endemic to region
Not_assigned
Endemism Notes
Is an endemic?: Not_assigned
Conservation
Threats listed in assessment
The species is sensitive to disturbance on beaches (del Hoyo et al. 1996) (e.g. from recreational activities and free-running dogs; Thomas et al. 2003), and is susceptible to avian influenza so may be threatened by future outbreaks of the virus (Melville and Shortridge 2006). Changes in coastal land-use and the possibility of oil pollution could affect this species in UAE, but the severity of these threats towards this species is unknown. Climate change is likely to have an effect on this species in the future.
Conservation Measures

Conservation measures:
Conservation measures notes:
Required conservation measures:

Further information
History
It is assessed that in 1996, the national Red List status of this species would have been the same as in this assessment.
Scientific Name Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Genus
Calidris alba Animalia Chordata Aves Charadriiformes Scolopacidae Calidris