Spring migration of a Neotropical shorebird, the Rufous-chested Plover, Charadrius modestus , between southern Brazil and the sub-Antarctic Falkland/Malvinas Islands

Information about migratory strategies and routes is central to avian ecology and conservation, but frequently lacking for Austral breeding species. Terrestrial Austral migrants wintering in southern Brazil are largely thought to breed in Patagonia and migrate to the region in late winter/spring. Here, we present satellite tracking data from 3 adult Rufous-chested Plovers ( Charadrius modestus ) tagged during the nonbreeding season in southern Brazil and describe the weather conditions during the initiation of their pre-breeding migration. These individuals departed their wintering areas on days of decreasing air pressure and predominantly NE quadrant tailwinds in late August/early September. Unexpectedly, they all performed non-stop flights (mean ± 1 standard deviation = 2,354.6 ± 30.8 km in orthodromes) over the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean to reach breeding sites in the sub-Antarctic Malvinas/Falkland Islands in 3–6 days. These are the first tracking data for this species, and some of the only data from any species using this poorly studied migratory system. Gathering additional information on this route could, therefore, be crucial for management and conservation, as little is known about the sites at which migrants concentrate during the pre-migratory period and because this route can be a potential gateway for emerging pathogens and viruses to sub-Antarctic and Antarctic regions.