MEDIA FACTSHEET C Migratory bird species at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve is one of the sites along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway where an estimated 2,000 migratory shorebirds roost and feed at during the northern winter. Five of the commonly seen species at the Reserve include the Pacific Golden Plover (Pluvialis fulva), Lesser Sand Plover (Charadrius mongolus), Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus), Common Redshank (Tringa totanus) and Common Greenshank (Tringa nebularia). Globally threatened species s uch as Far Eastern Curlew (Numenius madagascariensis), and near threatened species such as Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica) have also been recorded at the Reserve. 1 Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis fulva Status in Singapore: common winter visitor and passage migrant Distinctive features: short bill and dark brown legs. Its non-breeding plumage is yellowish mottled greyish-brown upperparts and pale-brown underparts. Photo credit: National Parks Board 2 Lesser Sand Plover Charadrius mongolus Status in Singapore: common winter visitor and passage migrant Distinctive features: (non breeding plumage) underparts are white with dusky patches on sides of the breast, forming an incomplete breast-band. Page 1 of 7 For more information, please contact Ng Li-San (9846 7715). Photo credit: National Parks Board 3 Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus Status in Singapore: Common winter visitor and passage migrant Distinctive features: long down- curved bill (about twice the length as the head) and bluish-grey legs. Photo credit: National Parks Board 4 Common Redshank Tringa totanus Status in Singapore: Common winter visitor and passage migrant Distinctive features: long stout bill and long orange-red legs. Photo credit: National Parks Board Page 2 of 7 For more information, please contact Ng Li-San (9846 7715). 5 Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia Status in Singapore: Common winter visitor and passage migrant Distinctive features: slightly up- turned bill and long grey to pale- olive legs. Photo credit: National Parks Board 6 Chinese Egret Egretta eulophotes Global Status: Vulnerable Status in Singapore: rare winter visitor and passage migrant This species is sighted at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve every few years. The most recent sighting was one individual in November 2016. Distinctive features: black bill with a pale pinkish base to the lower mandible Photo credit: National Parks Board 7 Far Eastern Curlew Numenius madagascariensis Global Status: Endangered Status in Singapore: rare passage migrant The last sighting record for this species was in November 2007. Page 3 of 7 For more information, please contact Ng Li-San (9846 7715). Distinctive features: very long down- curved bill Photo credit: National Parks Board 8 Nordmann’s Greenshank Tringa guttifer Global Status: Endangered Status in Singapore: rare winter visitor This species was last sighted in Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve in November 2008. It was previously sighted in other parts of Singapore 27 years ago, in December 1981. Photo credit: National Parks Board Distinctive features: very similar to Common Greenshank but differentiated by its thick, up- curved bill and relatively shorter legs that are yellow in colour. 9 Great Knot Calidris tenuirostris Global Status: Endangered Status in Singapore: an uncommon winter visitor and passage migrant Page 4 of 7 For more information, please contact Ng Li-San (9846 7715). This species is sighted at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve every few years. The most recent sighting was one individual in November 2016. Distinctive features: long black bill with a slightly decurved tip and dark green legs. Photo credit: National Parks Board 10 Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica Global Status: Near Threatened Status in Singapore: an uncommon winter visitor and passage migrant This species is sighted at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve every few years. The most recent sighting was four individuals in November 2016. Distinctive features: slender and slightly upturned bill that is about Photo credit: National Parks Board the same length as the head. Bill colour is fresh pink at the base and black at the tip . 11 Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa Global Status: Near Threatened Status in Singapore: uncommon winter visitor and passage migrant Page 5 of 7 For more information, please contact Ng Li-San (9846 7715). This species is sighted at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve every few years. The most recent sighting was in September 2015, with the highest count of 32 birds. Distinctive features: long and straight bill that is fresh pink in colour at the base and black at the tip. Photo credit: National Parks Board 12 Asian Dowitcher Limnodromus semipalmatus Global Status: Near Threatened Status in Singapore: rare winter visitor This species is sighted at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve every few years. The most recent sighting was Photo credit: National Parks Board seven individuals in September 2013. Distinctive features: long, thick, black straight bill. 13 Ruff Calidris pugnax Status in Singapore: rare winter visitor and passage migrant An individual was sighted recently in December 2016 at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, 18 years since the last sighting. Distinctive features: short, slightly Photo credit: National Parks Board decurved bills 14 Grey-headed Lapwing Vanellus cinereus Status in Singapore: rare winter Page 6 of 7 For more information, please contact Ng Li-San (9846 7715). visitor and passage migrant An individual was sighted recently in December 2016 at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, 18 years since the last sighting. Distinctive features: short, slightly decurved bills Photo credit: Tan Chee Keon 15 Northern Pintail Anas acuta Status in Singapore: rare winter visitor The last sighting record for this species was in January 1993. In February 2016, an individual was sighted in Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve – a new record for the Wetlands’ bird list. Photo credit: National Parks Board Distinctive features: long, thin neck and a pointed tail, which is extremely long in males Page 7 of 7 For more information, please contact Ng Li-San (9846 7715). .