Justification This species has an extremely large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence <20,000 km2 combined with a declining or fluctuating range size, habitat extent/quality, or population size and a small number of locations or severe fragmentation). Despite the fact that the population trend appears to be decreasing, the decline is not believed to be sufficiently rapid to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (>30% decline over ten years or three generations). The population size may be moderately small to large, but it is not believed to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion (<10,000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be >10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern.

Family/Sub-family Glareolidae

Species name author (Linnaeus, 1758)

Taxonomic source(s) AERC TAC (2003), Cramp and Simmons (1977-1994), Dowsett and Forbes-Watson (1993), Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993)

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

22,000 - 85,000

unset

5,980,000 km²

No

Ecology: Behaviour This species is largely sedentary but does undertake local irregular nomadic movements in response to changes in riverine water levels^{1, 2}. North of the equator the species breeds from January to April or May when the water levels in rivers are the lowest (the timing of breeding has not been recorded in the southern parts of species's range)¹. It breeds in solitary pairs¹ and is usually observed in pairs or small groups when not breeding², often migrating in flocks of up to 60 individuals¹. Habitat The species inhabits the middle stretches² of large lowland tropical rivers with bars of sand and gravel (which it uses for nesting)¹. It often occurs around human settlements near rivers¹ and may occasionally use other wetland habitats² (e.g. lakes or ponds)³ and be found away from water when not breeding or when rivers are in spate². It generally avoids heavily forested areas and estuarine waters however¹. Diet Its diet consists predominantly of insects³ (adult and larval aquatic and terrestrial forms but especially small flies) as well as worms, molluscs¹ and seeds³. Breeding site The nest is a deep scrape¹ where the eggs are incubated by being buried in warm sand² on an exposed sandbank in a riverbed¹.

Threats The species is threatened by habitat changes resulting from the damming of rivers¹.

References 1. del Hoyo et al. (1996). 2. Hayman et al. (1986). 3. Urban et al. (1986).

Text account compilers Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), Jonathan Ekstrom (BirdLife International), Lucy Malpas (BirdLife International)

IUCN Red List evaluators Jeremy Bird (BirdLife International), Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International)

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2009) Species factsheet: Pluvianus aegyptius. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 10/2/2010

This information is based upon, and updates, the information published in BirdLife International (2000) Threatened birds of the world. Barcelona and Cambridge, UK: Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International, BirdLife International (2004) Threatened birds of the world 2004 CD-ROM and BirdLife International (2008) Threatened birds of the world 2008 CD-ROM. These sources provide the information for species accounts for the birds on the IUCN Red List.

To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife

To contribute to discussions on the evaluation of the IUCN Red List status of Globally Threatened Birds, please visit BirdLife's Globally Threatened Bird Forums