Pluvialis squatarola | UAE National Red List of Birds

Taxa
Pluvialis squatarola | (Linnaeus, 1758)
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
This species is particularly numerous throughout the country during August to October on migration southward to the wintering grounds and, in lower numbers, in April on migration northward, as well as during winter along the coast (Richardson 1990, Pedersen et al. 2017). Some individuals stay over summer, but do not breed (Richardson 1990, Pedersen et al. 2017).
Habitats and Ecology
Ecological system type
Terrestrial system
No
Freshwater system
No
Marine system
No
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
This species frequents intertidal mudflats and saltmarshes along the coast (Richardson 1990, del Hoyo et al. 1996, Aspinall and Porter 2011). Particularly during migration, it is also found further inland at wetlands and freshwater margins like lakes and pools (Richardson 1990, del Hoyo et al. 1996, Aspinall and Porter 2011). There is no information available about its diet in the UAE; elsewhere, when on the coast in its wintering range, the species takes marine polychaete worms, molluscs and crustaceans, and occasionally insects or earthworms when in inland habitats on passage (Johnsgard 1981, del Hoyo et al. 1996).It is gregarious during winter, often roosting in large flocks containing up to several thousand individuals (del Hoyo et al. 1996). The species is fully migratory (del Hoyo et al. 1996). Individuals occurring in the UAE during passage and winter breed in central Siberia; part of the population travels further south to winter in southern Africa (Richardson 1990).
Is there a map available in assessment?
Yes
Assessed status
Asessment status in full
Least Concern
Assessment status abreviation
LC
Assessment rationale/justification
The population overwintering in the UAE is moderately sized (1,000-2,000 mature individuals) and;the number of birds that overwinters in the country appears to be increasing. Therefore, the species is assessed as Least Concern.
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
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. Outside the UAE, the species is potentially threatened by disturbance from recreational activities (Cutts et al. 2009), intertidal oyster culture (Gittings and O'Donoghue 2012) and urban and industrial development, which could have an impact on individuals that visit the UAE. Warmer temperatures brought about by climate change are thought to affect this species (Maclean;et al. 2008).
Conservation Measures

Conservation measures:
Conservation measures notes:
Required conservation measures:

Further information
History
The species is also considered to have been Least Concern in 1996.
Scientific Name Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Genus
Pluvialis squatarola Animalia Chordata Aves Charadriiformes Charadriidae Pluvialis