Population status of Neotropical migratory shorebirds in Argentina and Chile

The current state of knowledge of Neotropical shorebird species in Argentina and Chile is scarce in comparison to the knowledge of Neartic shorebirds breeding in North America. Neotropical shorebirds breed in the southern hemisphere and connect their reproductive areas with foraging and resting sites using habitats with diverse ecological features and variable climatic conditions. Populations of some species could migrate totally or partially within the same country and/or across one or more countries. Our main aim is to provide relevant information on seven focal species (Pluvianellus socialis, Oreopholus ruficollis, Charadrius modestus, Charadrius faklandicus, Chionis albus, Haematopus leucopodus, Haematopus ater), whose life cycle develops in different environments across southern South America, but we will focus on those migratory populations present in Argentina and Chile. We will present up-to-date information on distribution ranges, global population size and regional and/or local trends, major migratory flyways, main breeding and feeding areas, IUCN category, and data from monitoring efforts through banding and/or satellite telemetry. Likewise, we will show maps of species occurrence from data platforms such as e-Bird and Ecoregistros. We conclude that there is a need for increased research efforts in new topics such as phylogeography, and the improvement of knowledge on migratory routes and population trends. For some species, Oreopholus ruficollis and Charadrius modestus, it is relevant to enhance the scarce knowledge related to their reproductive, foraging and habitat use ecology. Lastly, conservation strategies and actions in conjunction with local stakeholders are key to protect populations at multiple sites utilized by this shorebird species.