Birds of the Uruguayan coasts

Abstract

This is a complete list of species found on the Uruguayan coasts of the Atlantic Ocean and the La Plata river, that is, from the Brazilian border to the mouth of the Paraná and Uruguay rivers, with short notes on their field marks, habits and state of migration. Birds frequenting the numerous coastal lagoons and reedbeds are included. The majority of the mentioned Uruguayan shore-birds are sedentary breeding species. Most of the mentioned plovers (Charadrii) and two species of terns (Sterninae) breed in North America and visit the Uruguayan coast in summer (which is the North American winter). The penguins, petrels, the King shag, two plovers, the Sheath-bill, some gulls, and terns and three passerine species are winter visitors on the Uruguayan coast and breed chiefly in the extreme South of the continent or on the Antarctic Islands.