Grey Plover

Distribution, movements and phenology

The Grey Plover breeds between May and August in the Arctic regions of Russia and North America (Billerman et al. 2026). In Portugal, birds from Siberian populations occur during their migrations, with a significant proportion remaining throughout the winter. Furthermore, some non-breeding individuals remain throughout the year (Lourenço et al. 2018). The Grey Plover occurs mainly in the Mainland’s wetlands and coastal areas (Equipa Atlas 2018). It is most abundant in the southern half of the region, particularly in the Tagus and Sado estuaries, the Santo André Lagoon and the Ria Formosa. To a lesser extent, it occurs in some estuaries in the north-west and in the Ria de Aveiro. A small proportion also uses much of the non-estuarine coastline (Lecoq et al. 2013). In the Azores and Madeira, the species occurs as a vagrant, having been observed mainly along the coastlines of the various islands in these archipelagos.

Abundance and population trends

The global population has been estimated at between 1,000,000 and 2,500,000 breeding birds, with a declining trend (BirdLife International 2025). In Mainland Portugal, the wintering population has been estimated at around 6,500 individuals, of which 1–2% utilise the marine coastline (Lecoq et al. 2013). Compared with older records (Catry et al. 2010a), the population appears to be stable (Lourenço et al. 2018; Belo et al. 2023), despite a notable decline in the small proportion using the non-estuarine coast (Lecoq et al. 2013). Despite all these uncertainties, this population appears to have achieved Good Environmental Status for the abundance indicator. In the Azores and Madeira, however, the population size is very low, both in winter and during migration (Equipa Atlas 2018). Furthermore, these populations show a negative trend and have not achieved Good Environmental Status.

Ecology and habitat

The Grey Plover is found mainly in estuaries and other coastal wetlands (Equipa Atlas 2018). Although it prefers areas with fine, loose sediments, along the coast it also inhabits rocky areas with a wide intertidal zone (Lourenço et al. 2013). In the Azores and Madeira, it has a preference for coastal areas, although it is also observed in more inland parts of the islands. During the wintering period, the diet consists of invertebrates, mainly polychaetes, bivalves and crustaceans, both globally (Billerman et al. 2026) and nationally (Moreira 1996; Lopes et al. 1998; Lourenço 2019).

Threats and conservation

Globally, habitat degradation and conversion appear to be the main threats at feeding and resting sites during migration and wintering. Additionally, climate change may compromise breeding success and lead to a significant reduction in nesting habitat. Key sources of pressure include urban development, the expansion of the aquaculture industry, the establishment of hydrocarbon refineries, and disturbance associated with the fishing industry (BirdLife International 2025). In Portugal, disturbance at feeding and resting sites may constitute a threat to the wintering population.

Autor

Nuno Oliveira