How many species are there in the Western Hemisphere?
There are 88 shorebird species breeding in the Western Hemisphere, and another eleven classified as non-breeding visitors. Of these, 52 occur in North America, and over one-third are in decline. At least seven are highly imperiled including: Snowy, Piping, and Mountain plovers, Red Knot, Long-billed Curlew and Buff-breasted Sandpiper. Another 22 species are conservation priorities: American Golden-Plover,Wilson’s Plover, American Oystercatcher, Black Oystercatcher, Solitary Sandpiper, Upland Sandpiper,Whimbrel, Bristle-thighed Curlew, Hudsonian Godwit, Bar-tailed Godwit, Marbled Godwit, Ruddy Turnstone, Black Turnstone, Surfbird, Sanderling, Western Sandpiper, Rock Sandpiper, Dunlin, Short-billed Dowitcher, American Woodcock, Wilson’s Phalarope, Red-necked Phalarope. Much less is known about the South and Central American shorebird species that do not breed in North America, often called the Neotropical shorebirds. In fact, they are one of the least well-known groups of shorebirds in t
