Magellanic plover facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Magellanic plover |
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| Conservation status | |
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Pluvianellus
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| Species: |
socialis
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The Magellanic plover (Pluvianellus socialis) is a special and rare bird. It's a type of wader, which means it's a bird that often walks in shallow water or mud. You can only find this unique bird in the very southern parts of South America.
Contents
A Unique Bird Family
For a long time, people thought the Magellanic plover was part of the same family as other plovers. But scientists noticed it acted differently from other plovers. Later, special studies looked at its DNA. These studies showed that the Magellanic plover is actually more closely related to sheathbills. Sheathbills are a unique bird family found only in Antarctica. Because of these discoveries, the Magellanic plover now has its very own bird family, called Pluvianellidae.
What Does It Look Like?
This bird looks and acts a lot like a turnstone. However, you won't confuse it with any other wader. Its back and chest are a light grey color. The rest of its belly is white. It has short, bright red legs and a black beak. Its eyes are also red. Young Magellanic plovers look a bit different. Their eyes and legs are yellowish. Their feathers are mostly grey with a scaly pattern. When it calls, it makes a soft sound, like a dove's coo.
Where Does It Live?
The Magellanic plover does not travel very far. It is not a long-distance migrant. Some birds do move a bit further north in southern Argentina during the winter months. This species breeds inland, often near lakes. Then, in winter, they move to the coast. They especially like places where rivers meet the sea, called estuaries. One of their favorite winter spots is in Puerto Madryn and Península Valdes, Chubut, Argentina.
Bird Behaviour
Breeding and Life Cycle
Magellanic plovers build their nests near water. They often choose salty lakes, but sometimes they nest near rivers too. Each pair of birds protects its own territory. Both parents help to incubate the eggs. The female lays two large eggs on the ground. However, usually only one baby bird survives. A very special thing about this bird is how it feeds its chicks. It is the only wader that feeds its babies by bringing up food from its own stomach. This food is stored in a special pouch called a crop.
How They Find Food
Magellanic plovers eat small invertebrates. These are tiny creatures without backbones, like worms or insects. They pick their food from the ground. Sometimes, they even look for food under small pebbles. They do this in a similar way to a turnstone. People have also seen them gathering worms with their beaks, much like a puffin does.
See also
In Spanish: Pluvial magallánico para niños
