Distribution

Breeding Range

Current breeding range (Fig. 1) on the Northern Great Plains extends from alkali wetlands in southeastern Alberta through southern Saskatchewan and Manitoba to Lake of the Woods in southwestern Ontario and north-western Minnesota, south along major prairie rivers (Yellowstone, Missouri, Niobrara, Platte, and Loup), the Arkansas River and reservoirs in eastern Colorado, the Kansas River in Kansas, and alkali wetlands in northeastern Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Iowa (Ferland and Haig 2002, Haig et al. in press). Occasionally sighted on Lake Athabasca in northern Saskatchewan (Adams 1984). Great Lakes breeding sites restricted to several beaches along Lakes Superior, Michigan, and Huron in northern Michigan and Wisconsin (USFWS 2003, Haig et al. in press, J. Dingledine pers. comm.). Atlantic populations nest along beaches in New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, Quebec, Newfoundland, Saint Pierre and Miquelon (France), southern Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina (Haig et al. in press). Breeding birds observed in South Carolina on Waites Island during 1990 and 1991 (Murray and McDavit 1993) but no birds recorded there recently.

Winter Range

Only 14% – 63% of breeding birds accounted for during winter (Haig and Oring 1985, Haig 1986, Nicholls and Baldassarre 1990a, Haig and Plissner 1993, Plissner and Haig 2000, Ferland and Haig 2002, Haig et al. in press; Fig. 1). Commonly winters in the U.S. from North Carolina south on the Atlantic Coast and across the entire Gulf Coast, with the greatest number of birds in Texas (Haig et al. in press). Pertinent information regarding winter distribution outside U.S. incomplete (Haig et al. in press). Low winter numbers may in part be a product of reduced detection relative to breeding season surveys due to inclement weather, diffuse habitat, and increased mobility during winter (Haig et al. in press, K. Mehl pers. comm.). While the International Piping Plover Census aims to standardize survey effort, greater local monitoring efforts on breeding grounds may also contribute to seasonal disparity in numbers. Results from the three International Piping Plover Census’ indicate Northern Plains populations winter predominantly on the Gulf Coast, while Atlantic breeders winter further south on Atlantic Coast. Most birds from Great Lakes observed on Atlantic Coast and Gulf Coast of Florida (94%; J. Stucker and F. Cuthbert, unpubl. data), but some winter further west along the Gulf Coast (Ferland and Haig 2002). Band resightings indicate some individuals that winter together also occupy the same breeding sites (Haig et al. in press, K. Mehl pers. comm.); however, among Great Lakes birds only one pair is known to have wintered together (J. Stucker pers. comm.). Some birds cross over to the Gulf and to the Atlantic and birds from distant breeding areas may winter together at multiple winter sites. Massachusetts birds have wintered in Texas and Michigan birds shared sites with Eastern Canada and South Dakota birds (Haig and Oring 1988b, Haig et al. in press).

Outside the US, the Laguna Madre of Tamaulipas, Mexico may be an important wintering area (Mabee et al. 2001).  Other sightings from sites in Mexico: Veracruz; northern Yucatan; northern Quintana Roo; Puerto Peñasco, Sonora; and San Blas, Nayarit (Howell 1993, Haig and Oring 1985). Previously thought to be a rare winter visitor in Cuba (Blanco et al. 1993), however, increased surveying suggests small numbers regularly winter in Cuba and the Bahamas (Ferland and Haig 2002, Haig et al. in press, J. Stucker and F. Cuthbert unpubl. data). Occasional sightings from Barbados, Bermuda, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Haiti, Guadalupe, and Curacao (Haig and Oring 1985, Ridgely et al. 2003, Haig et al. in press, A. Leveques pers. comm.). Historic records from Jamaica and Dominican Republic (Haig and Oring 1985) but none seen on recent surveys (J. Collazo pers. comm., A. Sutton pers. comm.).

Occasional records for southwestern Ecuador, no other records for South America or mainland south of northern Mexico (Marchant 1956, Ridgely et al. 2003).

During the past 50 years, breeders disappeared from Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Lake Ontario, the Gaspé peninsula and the north shore of Quebec (Haig and Oring 1985, Haig et al. in press, D. Amirault pers. comm.). Five pairs or fewer breed in each of the following: St. Pierre and Miquelon Is.; Lake of the Woods, MN and ON; Wisconsin; Kansas; and Iowa (Haig et al. in press). Recent recolonizations include sites in Colorado, Kansas, and in Wisconsin on Lake Superior and Lake Michigan (Haig et al. in press). Since 1990, fewer breeding sites in U.S. Northern Great Plains and Prairie Canada. Overall numbers have also declined in Prairie Canada and along the eastern and western periphery of their range in the U.S. Northern Great Plains. Eastern U.S. populations have increased, particularly in the central part of their range (New England and New York), but numbers have declined in eastern Canada and along the southern edge of the range in North Carolina. Distribution along Great Lakes is greatly restricted compared to historical range (Russell 1983, Haig et al. in press).  Great Lakes numbers almost doubled between 1991 and 2001 and have now almost tripled (to 100 breeding individuals; J. Stucker and F. Cuthbert unpubl. data); however, Great Lakes birds represent < 2.0% of the species and most historic sites have not been recolonized except in Wisconsin (Haig et al. in press)