From Opus

Photo by Peter Ericsson
Samot Sakorn, Thailand, November 2006

Limicola falcinellus

[edit] Identification

Length 17 cm
A small wader with short legs. The bill is relatively long, with a broad, flattened tip. It has a diagnostic white double supercilium.

Breeding

• Dark grey upperparts with creamy streaks
• White underparts
• Streaked breast markings continue to flanks
  

Breeding plumage
Photo by dfd
Oulu, Finland, June 2008

Non-breeding

• Pale grey above
• White scaling on scapulars and wings
• White below
• Head patter less marked
  

Juvenile - similar to breeding adult white belly but lacks the streaked flanks

[edit] Similar Species

Can be confused with Dunlin.

[edit] Distribution

Breeding: Patchy; Scandinavia to eastern Siberia. During breeding season found in very wet quagmires in Norway, Sweden, Finland and parts of Kola peninsula, Russia (L.f.falcinellus).

Overwinters: South-eastern Asia, Australasia (L. f. sibrica); India, Sri Lanka, Arabian Peninsula and Africa (L. f. falcinellus).

Juvenile
Photo by Steve G
Kalloni saltpans, Lesvos, August 2003

[edit] Taxonomy

[edit] Subspecies

There are 2 subspecies^[1]:

• L f falcinellus:

• Scandinavia and north-western Russia; winters to southern Africa and India

• L f sibirica:

• Northern Russia; winters to India, south-eastern Asia, Philippines and Australia

[edit] Habitat

Mainly coastal. Also salt pools, gravel pits, brackish mudflats, lagoons, riversides, lakes and marshes on migration.

During breeding season found in very wet quagmires.

[edit] Behaviour

Photo by lior kislev
Maagan michael, Israel, September 2012

[edit] Breeding

The nest is a ground scrape. The clutch usually contains 4 eggs.

[edit] Diet

The diet includes insects and other small invertebrates.

[edit] Vocalisation

[edit] References

1. Clements, JF. 2011. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to August 2011. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/downloadable-clements-checklist
2. Collins Field Guide 5th Edition ISBN 0 00 219900 9
3. Wikipedia
4. BF Member observations

• List of references

[edit] External Links