Bird species profile
Magellanic Plover
Pluvianellus socialis
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Family
- Pluvianellidae
About the species
The Magellanic Plover is a rare and distinctive shorebird found only in southern Patagonia. With pale grey plumage, red eyes, and pinkish legs, it stands out among Patagonian birds. It is the sole living member of Pluvianellidae, a distinctive lineage closely related to the sheathbills (Chionidae). Unusually among shorebirds, parents feed their chicks by regurgitation. The species is generally shy and often seen in pairs or small family groups along the shores of saline lakes and lagoons. The Magellanic Plover is globally classified as Vulnerable. Its small population and restricted distribution make the species sensitive to habitat change and disturbance.
Habitat
Inhabits saline lakes, lagoons, and mudflats in southern Patagonia, especially in open, windswept landscapes.
Foraging
Adults forage by pecking, probing and scraping wet substrates for small invertebrates.
