Bird diversity and conservation in the southern coast of Santa Catarina state, Brazil

Abstract Coastal lagoons and their surrounding habitats often harbour high biodiversity and some of the most threatened ecosystems in the world. However, in the Neotropics the biodiversity is often poorly described, lacking even inventories of species which therefore limits the assessment of threats and the stablishment of efficient conservation measures. We present here lists of bird species recorded at ten sites along the under-studied coastal lagoons of southern Santa Catarina, Brazil, collected mainly from October 2012 to March 2018. We present quantitative data for endemic and threatened species, identify migratory status and highlight distributional novelties. In total, we recorded 229 species encompassing 63 families, including twelve species of conservation concern, 11 endemic to the Atlantic Forest or Pampas zoogeographical provinces and 38 migrants. We provide new records of seven rare species in Santa Catarina (Larus atlanticus, Calidris pusilla, Aramides ypecaha, Bubo virginianus, Limnornis curvirostris, Phacellodomus ferrugineigula and Pseudocolopteryx flaviventris) and report the first evidence of occurrence of Schoeniophylax phryganophilus for the State. Based on our findings, we discuss the regional diversity and conservation of the avifauna.