Snowy Plover
Charadrius nivosus
NatureServe conservation status
Global (G-rank): G3
State (S-rank): S2
Utah Wildlife Action Plan status
- SGCN
External links
Species range
Snowy Plovers can be found along the coasts of the Pacific Ocean in North, Central and South America, the coasts of the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic and Carribean. They are also found inland and breed in playa habitats of western United States and central Mexico. The breeding population in Utah around the Great Salt Lake is one of the largest concentrations of these inland populations in North America. These inland populations migrate to the coasts of California, Texas and Mexico for winter.
Ecology
Snowy Plovers nest on coastal, barren, sandy shores and inland playas mostly associated with alkaline and saline lakes. They feed on small invertebrates, mostly insects and crustaceans. They feed heavily on brine flies along the shores of the Great Salt Lake.
Threats or limiting factors
Habitat availability and nest disturbance are the main threats to Snowy Plovers at the Great Salt Lake. Habitat loss from invasion of phragmites, development and drying of the playa as the lake level decreases and water inputs to the lake decrease (Ellis et al 2015).