Saint Helena Plover
Anarhynchus sanctaehelenae
- Vulnerable
- Card rarity: Rare
- Birds
The Saint Helena plover, locally known as the wirebird due to its thin legs, is a small wader endemic to the island of Saint Helena in the mid-Atlantic. The bird is similar in appearance to Kittlitz's plover and the Madagascar plover, but a little larger and an absence of chamois coloring. It is the national bird of St Helena and has been depicted on the country's coins. Populations in general have been declining. Threats include predation by cats, the introduction of the common myna, deforestation, off-road vehicle use, the Saint Helena Airport and a projected windfarm. As of 2021, the population had recovered to about 545 mature individuals, from a previous minimum of less than 200 in 2006; consequently, the species was downlisted to Vulnerable from its previous assessment of Critically Endangered.
Classification
- Class
- Aves
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Family
- Charadriidae
- Genus
- Anarhynchus