Florida is a stronghold for the continental U.S. breeding population of Wilson’s Plover (Anarhynchus wilsonia), but data gaps exist in areas logistically challenging to survey. We estimated the species distribution and abundance in the Florida Keys by surveying 45 potential nesting areas. We used the independent double-observer method in a subset of the surveyed nesting areas (n = 20) to estimate the species’ detection probability and unbiased abundance during the onset of the nesting season (23–26 Apr 2019). We developed 4 models to assess the effects of observer-group and nesting habitat availability on detectability and abundance. The most supported model included a positive effect of habitat availability on the number of breeding pairs and constant detection probability. Using the detection probability from our best models, we estimated 82 breeding Wilson’s Plover pairs (95% CI: 74–142) in the surveyed areas. We documented that 18% of the statewide Wilson’s Plover breeding population is in the Florida Keys. This critical component of the breeding population is vulnerable to local declines because of limited available habitat and the predicted habitat loss due to climate change. Our methodology is relevant to researchers across the Wilson’s Plover breeding range interested in estimating the species’ abundance and applies to other shorebird species globally.

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