From Opus

Photo by postcardcv
Hayle, Cornwall, UK, February 2006

Limnodromus scolopaceus

[edit] Identification

27-30cm

• Yellowish-green legs
• Long straight dark bill, slightly distally de-curved
• Tail has a black and white barred pattern
• Prominent supercillium
• Noticeable white trailing edge to wing

Breeding

Breeding Plumage
Photo by Neil
Palo Alto, California, May 2006

• Dark brown upperparts
• Orangy-red underparts
• Spotted throat and breast
• Barred flanks

Winter

• Mostly grey
• White lower belly

[edit] Distribution

Breeds in Siberia and Alaska; winters from southern U.S. to Panama.

Regular vagrant to Europe, particularly Britain and Ireland.

[edit] Taxonomy

A monotypic species^[1].

Photo by eastwood
Iona, Richmond British Columbia, August 2006

[edit] Habitat

Although preferring fresh water habitats, they can also be seen in estuaries, mud flats, saltwater wetlands, reservoirs, and sewer ponds.

[edit] Behaviour

[edit] Breeding

They nest on the ground, usually near water.

[edit] Diet

Diet mainly consists of small crustaceans, molluscs, insects and marine worms, but includes some plant material as well. They forage by probing in shallow water or on wet mud.

[edit] References

1. Clements, JF. 2008. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2008. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist.
2. Wikipedia
3. Collins Bird Guide ISBN 0 00 219728 6
4. BF Member observations

• List of references

[edit] External Links