Kentish Plover

Anarhynchus alexandrinus

Introduction

A former breeder in southern England, hence the name, the Kentish Plover is now a scarce but annual visitor from Europe.

Key Stats

Status

Rare

Weight

47.5g

Seasonality

<1%

BTO Records

1.9k records

Population and distribution stats for:

No data

No current data

-100% contraction

No data

No current data

-75% contraction

Status and Trends

Population size, trends and patterns of distribution based on BTO and partnership surveys and atlasses with data collected by BTO volunteers.

Conservation Status

Open Close

This species can be found on the following statutory and conservation listings and schedules.

Species of European Conservation Concern

Least Concern

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (global)

Least Concern

Schedule 1 Licence required (to disturb)*

Birds Directive Annex 1

* A guide only. Check details with the original legislation, especially those marked with an asterisk. See About Birdfacts for more information.

Population Size

Open Close

BOU Category

Source

First Record*

Kent, 1787

* First documented occurrence. Most species undoubtedly occurred before this. See About Birdfacts for more information.

Population Change

Open Close

Population trends of this scarce species are not routinely monitored.

Distribution

Open Close

This species is a rare vagrant and was recorded during Bird Atlas 2007–11 as shown on the map.

Occupied 10-km squares in UK

These figures come from Bird Atlas 2007 and indicate how widespread a species is.

No. occupied in winter

% occupied in winter

0.03%

Bird Atlas distribution maps show where bird species breed or winter in Britain and Ireland. For breeding maps, larger dots indicate higher certainty the species bred in that area.

Click the map to enlarge,
or view it on Bird Atlas Mapstore.

Breeding Distribution for Kentish Plover

Click the map to enlarge,
or view it on Bird Atlas Mapstore.

To view and download up-to-date distribution information aggregated from across BTO and partnership surveys and schemes, see our data holdings on the NBN Atlas.

European Distribution Map

European Breeding Bird Atlas 2

Distribution Change

Open Close

This vagrant has been recorded in several atlases so we have been able to map distribution changes. However, as a rarity these may not show a consistent pattern of change.

Change in occupied 10-km squares in the UK

These figures come from Bird Atlas 2007-11 and indicate by how much occupied areas have expanded or contracted over recent decades.

% change in range in breeding season (1968–72 to 2008–11)

-100 %

% change in range in winter (1981–84 to 2007–11)

-75 %

Bird Atlas distribution change maps show how bird distributions have changed through time. Coloured upward-pointing triangles show places apparently colonised over the period; grey downward-pointing triangles show places apparently vacated. Shading show places occupied.

Winter Distribution change for Kentish Plover

Click the map to enlarge,
or view it on Bird Atlas Mapstore.

Breeding Distribution change for Kentish Plover

Click the map to enlarge,
or view it on Bird Atlas Mapstore.

Seasonality

Open Close

Kentish Plover is a rare vagrant in spring, autumn and winter.

Weekly pattern of occurrence

The graph shows when the species is present in the UK, with taller bars indicating a higher likelihood of encountering the species in appropriate regions and habitats.

Phenology graph — Weekly occurrence patterns (shaded cells and reporting rates (vertical bars) based on BirdTrack data. Reporting rates give the likelihood of encountering the species each week.

Movement

Information about Kentish Plover movements and migration based on online bird portals (e.g. BirdTrack), Ringing schemes and tracking studies.

Britain & Ireland movement

Open Close

View a summary of recoveries in the Online Ringing Report

Foreign locations of birds ringed or recovered in Britain & Ireland

Dots show the foreign destinations of birds ringed in Britain & Ireland, and the origins of birds ringed overseas that were subsequently recaptured, resighted or found dead in Britain & Ireland. Dot colours indicate the time of year that the species was present at the location.

Winter (Nov-Feb)
Spring (Mar-Apr)
Summer (May-Jul)
Autumn (Aug-Oct)

Foreign locations of birds ringed or recovered in Britain & Ireland

European movements

Open Close

EuroBirdPortal uses birdwatcher's records, such as those logged in BirdTrack to map the flows of birds as they arrive and depart Europe. See maps for this species here.

The Eurasian-African Migration Atlas shows movements of individual birds ringed or recovered in Europe. See maps for this species here.

Biology

Lifecycle and body size information for Kentish Plover, including statistics on nesting, eggs and lifespan based on BTO ringing and nest recording data.

Survival and Longevity

Open Close

Survival is shown as the proportion of birds surviving from one year to the next and is derived from bird ringing data. It can also be used to estimate how long birds typically live.

View number ringed each year in the Online Ringing Report.

Classification, names and codes

Taxonomy, names and species codes for Kentish Plover

Classification and Codes

Open Close

Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Charadriidae
Scientific name: Anarhynchus alexandrinus
Authority: Linnaeus, 1758

BTO 2-letter code: KP
BTO 5-letter code: KENPL
Euring code number: 4770

Alternate species names

Open Close

Catalan: corriol camanegre
Czech: kulík morský
Danish: Hvidbrystet Præstekrave
Dutch: Strandplevier
Estonian: mustjalg-tüll e. meritüll
Finnish: mustajalkatylli
French: Pluvier à collier interrompu

German: Seeregenpfeifer
Hungarian: széki lile
Icelandic: Strandlóa
Irish: Feadóigín Chosdubh
Italian: Fratino
Latvian: juras tartinš
Lithuanian: juodakojis kirlikas
Norwegian: Hvitbrystlo

Polish: sieweczka morska
Portuguese: borrelho-de-coleira-interrompida
Slovak: kulík morský
Slovenian: beloceli deževnik
Spanish: Chorlitejo patinegro
Swedish: svartbent strandpipare
Welsh: Cwtiad Caint

More Evidence

More evidence from Conservation Evidence.com

Partners

Birdfacts is based on data collected by volunteers participating in surveys that are organised and funded by BTO, RSPB, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, JNCC and other partners.

BTO

Esmée Fairbairn Foundation

JNCC

RSPB

Find a Species

Search by common or scientific name

Or view the alphabetical list of UK bird species