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

The coast of the state of Paraíba, 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 (Calidris 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, Paraíba do Norte and Mamanguape, during southward migration period.