A new southernmost record of White-faced Plover Charadrius dealbatus

摘要

Recent literature has discussed the occurrence of "mystery pale Charadrius plovers" observed and photographed in Singapore in winter 1993/1994, and in Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam from winter 2006/2007 onwards (Bakewell & Kennerley 2008, Kennerley et al. 2008). The conclusion is that these are the birds described by Robert Swinhoe in 1870, which he named Aegialites [= Charadrius] dealbatus, as a species distinct from Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandri-nus. Subsequent confusion has resulted in the name dealbatus being applied as the subspecific name of the form of Kentish Plover that occurs in abundance in E and SE Asia (with an estimated population of 100,000 (Wetlands International 2006)), while the taxon described by Swinhoe Charadrius dealbatus has been overlooked by almost all subsequent taxonomists, and mistakenly described and illustrated as Kentish Plover. An investigation to establish the phylogenetic relationship between Ch. dealbatus and other small Char-adrius plovers is currently in progress. If dealbatus proves to be distinct at the species level, it has been recommended that it be given the name Charadrius dealbatus, with the English name "White-faced Plover" (Kennerley et al. 2008).