Migratory Shorebirds during Boreal Summer and Southward Migration on the Coast of Paraiba, Brazil

The coast of the state of Paraiba, northeastern Brazil, was surveyed for migratory shorebirds during northern summer and the southward migration period, late May through October 2010. Shorebirds were counted along beaches and rivers mouths. A total of eleven species was recorded. The most common were Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus), Semipalmated Sandpiper (Candris pusilla), Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus) and Black-belled Plover (Pluvialis squatarola). The highest richness, diversity, abundance and frequency of birds occurred on the two largest estuaries, Paraiba do Norte and Mamanguape, during southward migration period. Received 11 March 2011, accepted 28 May 2011.