The Semipalmated Plover is a small shorebird species that breeds in the Arctic regions of North America and migrates south to coastal areas for the winter. Semipalmated Plovers can be found along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, as well as near the Great Lakes and inland wetlands across much of North America during migration and winter. Their breeding habitat is restricted to the tundra regions of northern Canada and Alaska.
Breeding Range
Semipalmated Plovers breed in the tundra regions of northern Canada and Alaska. Their breeding range extends from northern Alaska across northern Canada to Hudson Bay. Key breeding areas include:
- Northern Alaska – Along the Arctic Coastal Plain from Point Hope to the Alaska-Yukon border.
- Yukon and Northwest Territories – Across the tundra regions from the Alaska border east to Hudson Bay.
- Nunavut – Widespread across mainland Nunavut and northern islands. Banks Island holds a large population.
- Manitoba – Southern shores of Hudson Bay.
- Ontario – Coastal areas along Hudson Bay and James Bay.
Within their tundra breeding areas, Semipalmated Plovers nest on open gravel areas with little vegetation, including gravel river bars, beaches, and dried mudflats. They are well adapted to the treeless Arctic environment.
Migration
Semipalmated Plovers undertake long distance migrations between their Arctic breeding grounds and wintering areas that may be thousands of miles away. They migrate through the interior of North America, including a major route through the Great Plains region. Important stopover and staging sites during migration include:
- Great Plains – Wetlands and salt lakes in the Prairie Pothole region of the U.S. Great Plains and Canadian Prairies.
- Great Lakes – Shorelines and wetlands around the Great Lakes.
- Atlantic Coast – Coastal marshes, mudflats, and beaches from North Carolina to Florida and along the Gulf Coast.
- Pacific Coast – Coastal estuaries, beaches, and wetlands from southern British Columbia to Baja California, Mexico.
Semipalmated Plovers form large flocks numbering in the hundreds of birds during migration. They may mix with other small shorebird species at preferred stopover sites.
Wintering Range
During winter, Semipalmated Plovers can be found along all the coastlines of North America from the Gulf of Mexico and Baja California in the south to the southeastern United States and southern British Columbia in the north. Key wintering areas include:
- Atlantic Coast – Florida coastlines, coastal Carolina marshes, Chesapeake Bay, and Long Island, New York.
- Gulf Coast – Coastal Texas and Mexico, Florida Gulf Coast.
- Pacific Coast – California coast and Baja California, Mexico.
- Interior Wetlands – Wetlands across the southern U.S. Great Plains and south to Mexico.
- Caribbean – Coastal areas around the islands of the Caribbean.
On their wintering grounds, Semipalmated Plovers favor open sandy beaches, tidal flats, salt marshes, lagoons, and shorelines with little vegetation. They sometimes intermingle with other small plovers and sandpipers.
Table of Key Semipalmated Plover Locations
Season | Region | Key Locations |
---|---|---|
Breeding | Arctic Coastal Plain, Alaska | Barrier islands, river deltas, tundra |
Central Canadian Arctic | Lowland tundra, Hudson Bay coast | |
Nunavut and Northwest Territories | Low Arctic tundra, Banks Island | |
Migration | Interior North America | Great Plains wetlands, Great Lakes shorelines |
Pacific Coast | Estuaries, mudflats from B.C. to Baja | |
Atlantic Coast | Coastal marshes, beaches from Carolinas to Florida | |
Wintering | Atlantic Coast | Southeast U.S. coasts, Gulf coast, Caribbean islands |
Pacific Coast | California coast, Baja California | |
Gulf Coast | Coastal Texas and Mexico | |
Interior Wetlands | Wetlands across southern Great Plains and Mexico |
Habitat Preferences
Semipalmated Plovers require open habitats with little vegetation throughout their range. On their Arctic breeding grounds, they nest on gravel beaches, river bars, and bare tundra with only low shrubs and grasses present. During migration they frequent open shorelines, beaches, and exposed mudflats on inland wetlands, salt lakes, and along the Great Lakes. On their wintering grounds they primarily inhabit sandy beaches, tidal flats, salt marshes, lagoons, and similar open, bare environments along the coasts.
Breeding Habitat
In the Arctic tundra, Semipalmated Plovers nest in areas with little vegetation, including:
- Gravel river bars and stream beds
- Sandy/gravelly tundra
- Coastal beaches and barrier islands
- Dried mudflats around tundra ponds and lakes
They avoid dense, grassy tundra and will abandon nesting areas if vegetation grows too high. Access to wet tundra areas and shallow freshwater pools is also important for foraging.
Migration Stopover Habitat
During migration Semipalmated Plovers use a variety of open wetland and shoreline habitats as stopover sites to rest and feed, including:
- Exposed sandy beaches along the Great Lakes and Atlantic and Pacific coasts
- Mudflats, sandflats, and algal mats in coastal estuaries and bays
- Wet, open sandbars and mudflats in inland rivers and lakes
- Exposed shorelines of ponds, lakes, and wetlands
- Open shores of rivers, reservoirs, and salt lakes
These areas provide Semipalmated Plovers with open viewing, roosting, and foraging areas relatively safe from predators.
Wintering Habitat
Typical winter habitats for Semipalmated Plovers include:
- Sandy beaches and tidal flats along the coast
- Sandbars and mudflats in coastal estuaries and lagoons
- Salt marshes and tidal creeks
- Exposed lake shores and river bars inland
- Coastal salt ponds and evaporation ponds
They prefer sites with limited vegetation where they can easily detect predators and forage along the water’s edge.
Population and Conservation Status
Semipalmated Plovers have an extremely large global population estimated at over 1 million mature individuals. Their numbers increased significantly during the 20th century as they adapted to nesting on human-altered habitat in the Arctic. They are considered a species of Least Concern by the IUCN Red List due to their large, widespread population.
However, Semipalmated Plovers face some conservation threats on their breeding and wintering grounds, including:
- Oil drilling, mining, and development in the Arctic impacting tundra nesting areas
- Disturbance and habitat loss along migratory stopover sites
- Sea level rise and development along coastal wintering habitat
Protection of key breeding habitats in the Arctic, wetland stopovers through the Great Plains, and wintering coastal sites will be important for the continued success of Semipalmated Plover populations.
Conservation Status | Population Estimate | Population Trend |
---|---|---|
IUCN Red List: Least Concern | ~1 million mature individuals | Increasing overall |
US Endangered Species Act: Not listed | 500,000-1,000,000 in North America | Increasing in 20th century, stable recently |
Trends by Region: | ||
Increasing in eastern Canada | Declines in parts of the U.S. Great Plains | |
Stable or increasing Alaskan population | Decreasing at some U.S. wintering sites |
Conclusion
In summary, Semipalmated Plovers breed exclusively in the Arctic tundra regions of northern Canada and Alaska. They migrate long distances through interior North America to winter along the coasts from Mexico to the southeastern U.S., southern B.C., and the Caribbean. They rely on open habitats with sparse vegetation throughout their range. Semipalmated Plovers have a global population of over 1 million, and while their numbers are increasing overall some local declines have been observed. Conservation efforts focused on protecting their Arctic breeding grounds, migration stopover sites, and coastal wintering habitats will help ensure the continued success of these remarkable migratory shorebirds into the future.