Tundra Plovers

As a boy, Des Thompson first encountered the Eurasian Golden Plover whilst bird-watching in the wet, desolate wilds of northern Scotland with his father, the late Desmond Nethersole-Thompson. He went on to take his PhD at Nottingham University on the winter ecology and flocking behaviour of gulls and plovers. His particular interests are in mountain and moorland ecology and conservation. He is the Principal Adviser on the uplands in Scottish Natural Heritage, and is a Visiting Professor in Environmental Science at Manchester Metropolitan University.Ingvar Byrkjedal is Curator of Vertebrates at the Museum of Zoology, University of Bergen, Norway. He took his Cand.real at Bergen on the breeding ecology and plumage variation of Eurasian Golden Plovers. His research has continued on these birds, particularly on their anti-predator behaviour and parental care. He has studied American Golden Plovers in Canada, and Grey Plovers and Pacific Golden in north-west Siberia. His work has touched on little known northern shorebirds, and is presently focused on the mating system of Northern Lapwings.

• List of plates ix List of figures xiii List of tables xvii Foreword by Dr Derek Ratcliffe xix Preface xxiii Acknowledgements xxix 1. The tundra plovers: an introduction 1 2. Tundra plovers and their allies 34 3. Taxonomy and geographical variation 44 4. Plumages and moults 61 5. Phylogeny and biogeography 89 6. Breeding distribution, population trends and status 102 7. Breeding season: breeding schedules and nesting 125 8. Breeding season: social behaviour 155 9. Breeding season: sex roles and parental behaviour 183 10. Migration and non-breeding distributions 207 11. Behaviour and ecology in the non-breeding season 241 12. Diet: food and feeding 258 13. Associations with other birds 272 14. Conservation 278 Appendix 1: Scientific names of birds and mammals mentioned in the book 291 Appendix 2: Plumage variation in Eurasian Golden Plovers in Norway 295 Appendix 3: Descriptions of plumages of the tundra plovers 299 Appendix 4: The phylogeny of the tundra plovers (by Godtfred A. Halvorsen, Ingvar Byrkjedal &D.B.A. Thompson) 308 Appendix 5: Breeding densities in different parts of the world 328 Appendix 6a: Nest site habitats of Grey Plover 330 Appendix 6b: Nest site habitats ofEurasian Golden Plover 331 Appendix 6c: Nest site habitats of Pacific Golden Plover 333 Appendix 6d: Nest site habitats ofAmerican Golden Plover 334 Appendix 7. Duration of incubation 336 Appendix 8: Sequences of tonal element in trills 337 Appendix 9. Breeding season alarm calls 338 Appendix 10: Geographical and temporal distribution of museum specimens used in the construction of migration routes and phenologies 345 Appendix 11: Geographical distribution of references used for the migration charts and winter distribution maps 353 Appendix 12: Numbers of Grey Plovers counted or estimated in various parts of their wintering range 355 Appendix 13: Winter populations of Eurasian Golden Plovers in parts of their range 357 Appendix 14: Numbers of American Golden Plovers counted in winter on aerial surveys along the coasts of South America 358 References 359 Tables 398 Index 412

A well-researched book packed with information. It should appeal to all shorebird enthusiasts, as well as anybody concerned with the ecology of Arctic regions. -- Martin K. McNicholl North American Bird Bander Everything known about these birds is summarized in a very readable way, and the numerous appendices and tables testify to the massive amount of information, with great attention to detail, that has been researched... Birders will appreciate the very detailed discussions of variation, plumage, and molt in the four species. I recommend Tunda Plovers highly, especially to birders with a serious interest in shorebird biology. -- Dennis Paulson Birding There is plenty for the statistically-minded, and the serious researcher, as well as for the general wader-watcher. If you can't buy it, request it from the library! -- Geoff Gibbs Essex Birding Tundra Plovers is an ambitious and rewarding comparative treatment of the four species in the genus Pluvialis. [It] is an extraordinarily attractive book for one so filled with hard ornithological information. -- Peter G. Connors Auk Byrkjedal and Thompson, research scientists from Norway and Scotland, respectively, have melded their specialties of ecology and animal behavior to produce a thoroughly comprehensive analysis of four species of closely related northern hemisphere shorebirds. Choice This is a highly informative book, well presented and in an attractive format. The authors should be congratulated for producing such an easily readable, yet highly informative text which, I believe, will be the key reference for these birds for many years to come. -- Mark Whittingham Ibis It is a deeply inspired book, the labour of love from a gifted Norwegian/Scottish duo. The book is beautiful for its many original drawings by Ingvar Byrkjedal and for its text, and it provides an incredible, worldwide, compilation of data on the birds' morphology, distribution, population sizes, breeding schedules, breeding behaviour, migration patterns and schedules and diets. If you love, or even just like, plovers and the habitats in which they occur, this is a book for you. -- Theunis Piersma Ardea [A] comprehensive review of ecology, behaviour, migrations and biogeography of the genus. The large format and the ... technique of including extensive detail in appendices and tables at the back of the book allow a wealth of information to be presented; the text is well supported by the numerous photographs and drawings. Arctic and mountain regions fascinate many people; so do shorebirds; not only such specialists but many other birdwatchers will get much use and pleasure from this book. -- Jeremy J.D. Greenwood Habitat Written by two authors with over 50 years experience studying tundra plovers between them, this book is as complete an account of their biology as the current state of our knowledge will allow. Every aspect of the ecology of the four species involved is considered in detai... [A] treasure to students and researchers alike... All in all a very nice book. Highly recommended. Earthlife Web