Two-banded plover  (Charadrius falklandicus)

Classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List (1).

As its name suggests, the two-banded plover is readily distinguished from most other wading birds by the presence of two conspicuous black bands around its white throat and breast (2) (3) (4). A black bar across its forecrown separates the white of the forehead and lores, from the pale chestnut of the crown and hindneck (2). Although the sexes are similar in appearance (4), areas of black tend to be more brown on the female, while the crown is duller and the upper breast band flecked with white. Outside of the breeding season, the adult plumage is noticeably muted, with black markings replaced by grey and chestnut by grey-brown. The juvenile is similar in appearance to the non-breeding adult, but tends to have a darker face and more brown in its breast bands (2). Owing to the high frequency of birds with a broken upper breast band, the Falkland Islands population is thought possibly to merit classification as a separate subspecies (2) (3).

Breeding populations of the two-banded plover are restricted to Argentina, Chile, and the Falkland Islands, but many mainland birds migrate north as far as Uruguay and southern Brazil during the winter (2) (3) (4) (5).

Found on sand beaches, estuaries, mud-flats, wet savannas, and the borders of ponds and streams in lowland areas (2) (3) (4).

The two-banded plover is known to feed on a variety of small invertebrates including polychaete worms, molluscs and crustaceans (2) (4) (5) (6). It mostly forages on the edges of surf and rockpools, or amongst rotting seaweed and coastal grasses (2) (4). Despite being a strong flyer, rather than taking to the air, it usually flees from danger with an evasive run (4).

The nests are generally made in shallow scrapes in heath or grassland behind the beach (4), with most egg-laying occurring between September and December (2). Although the chicks leave the nest at an early age, it is common to see parents watchfully minding their offspring as they scurry along the beach (2).

There are no major threats to the two-banded plover and its population appears to be stable (7).

There are currently no known conservation measures in place for the two-banded plover.

View information on this species at the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre.

For information on the conservation of birds across the Americas see:

• American Bird Conservancy:
  www.abcbirds.org

For more information on this and other bird species please see:

• BirdLife International:
  http://www.birdlife.org