U.S. Geological Survey Biological Resources Division Technical Report Series Information and Biological Science Reports ISSN 1081-292X Technology Reports ISSN 1081-2911 Papers published in this series record the significant find­ These reports are intended for the publication of book­ ings resulting from USGS/BRD-sponsored and cospon­ length-monographs; synthesis documents; compilations sored research programs. They may include extensive data of conference and workshop papers; important planning or theoretical analyses. These papers are the in-house coun­ and reference materials such as strategic plans, standard terpart to peer-reviewed journal articles, but with less strin­ operating procedures, protocols, handbooks, and manu­ gent restrictions on length, tables, or raw data, for example. als; and data compilations such as tables and bibliogra­ We encourage authors to publish their fmdings in the most phies. Papers in this series are held to the same peer-review appropriate journal possible. However, the Biological Sci­ and high quality standards as their journal counterparts. ence Reports represent an outlet in which BRD authors may publish papers that are difficult to publish elsewhere due to the formatting and length restrictions of journals. At the same time, papers in this series are held to the same peer-review and high quality standards as their journal counterparts. To purchase this report, contact the National Technical Information Service, 5285 Port Royal Road, Springfield, VA 22161 (call toll free 1-800-553-684 7), or the Defense Technical Infonnation Center, 8725 Kingman Rd., Suite 0944, Fort Belvoir, VA 22060-6218. Biogeographical files o Shorebird Migration · Midcontinental Biological Science USGS/BRD/BSR--2000-0003 December 1 By Susan K. Skagen Peter B. Sharpe Robert G. Waltermire M. Beth Dillon Prepared in cooperation with Prairie Pothole Joint U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey Major funding for this project was provided by the Prairie Pothole Joint Venture ofthe North American Waterfowl Management Plan and the U.S. Geological Survey. Additional funding was provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Regions 2, 3, and 6; the Bureau ofLand Management; and the U.S. Forest Service. Credits: Stilt Sandpiper cover photo by S. K. Skagen Artwork on frontispiece and on page 117 courtesy ofRobin Corcoran Artwork on pages 19, 21, 61 and 107 by Dale Crawford Suggested citation: Skagen, S. K., P. B. Sharpe, R. G. Waltermire, and M. B. Dillon. 1999. Biogeographical profiles ofshorebird migration in midcontinental North America. Biological Science Report USGS/BRD/BSR--2000-0003. U.S. Government Printing Office, Denver, Colo. 167 pp. Contents Page Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................... 1 Study Area and Methods ............................................................................................................................................... 2 The Database ......................................................................................................................................................... 2 Data Analysis ......................................................................................................................................................... 2 Identification of Important Sites ............................................................................................................................ 8 Results and Discussion .................................................................................................................................................. 8 Map Interpretation ................................................................................................................................................. 8 Migration Chronology .......................................................................................................................................... 11 Spring Migration ofthe Genus Calidris- Preliminary Interpretations .................................................................. 11 Habitat Requirements ........................................................................................................................................... 13 Management Applications .................................................................................................................................... 13 Distribution Maps and Migration Information for Species Groups and 3 7 Shorebird Species .................................... 13 All Shorebirds ...................................................................................................................................................... 16 Long Distance Migrants ....................................................................................................................................... 18 Intermediate Distance Migrants ........................................................................................................................... 20 Short Distance Migrants ....................................................................................................................................... 22 All Plovers ........................................................................................................................................................... 24 Small Sandpipers ................................................................................................................................................. 26 Medium Sandpipers ............................................................................................................................................. 28 All Small Shorebirds ............................................................................................................................................ 30 All Mediu1n Shorebirds ........................................................................................................................................ 32 All Large Shorebirds ............................................................................................................................................ 34 Black-bellied Plover (Pluvialis squatarola) ......................................................................................................... 36 American Golden Plover (Pluvialis dominica) ..................................................................................................... 38 Snowy Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus) ............................................................................................................ 40 Wilson's Plover (Charadrius wilsonia) ................................................................................................................ 42 Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus) ............................................................................................... 44 Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus) .................................................................................................................... 46 Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) ........................................................................................................................... 48 Mountain Plover (Charadrius montanus) ............................................................................................................. 50 Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus himantopus) ...................................................................................................... 52 American Avocet (Recurvirostra americana) ....................................................................................................... 54 Greater Yellow leg (Tringa melanoleuca) .............................................................................................................. 56 Lesser Yellow legs (Tringajlavipes) ..................................................................................................................... 58 All Yellow legs ...................................................................................................................................................... 60 Solitary Sandpiper (Tringa solitaria) ................................................................................................................... 62 Willet (Catoptrophorus semipalmatus) ................................................................................................................ 64 Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularia) ................................................................................................................. 66 Upland Sandpiper (Bartramia longicauda) .......................................................................................................... 68 Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus) .......................................................................................................................... 70 Long-billed Curlew (Numenius americanus) ........................................................................................................ 72 Hudsonian Godwit (Limosa haemastica) ............................................................................................................. 74 Marbled Godwit (Limosafedoa) .......................................................................................................................... 76 Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres) ................................................................................................................