From Opus

Breeding plumage
Photo by Neil
Hong Kong, China, May 2009

Calidris ruficollis

[edit] Identification

13-16 cm
Breeding

• Russet head and upper breast
• Rufous upperparts with black mottling
• Grey wing coverts
• Dark streaks on lower breast
• White belly
• Straight black bill
  

Winter

Nonbreeding Adult
Photo by Peter Ericsson
Samut Sakorn, Thailand, November 2006

• White head with black streaks
• Grey upperparts mottle black
• White underparts

[edit] Similar Species

Winter birds are very similar to Semipalmated Sandpiper and Little Stint.

[edit] Distribution

Breeds in arctic northeast Siberia and Alaska.

It migrates through Siberia, Mongolia, China, Japan, and southeast Asia to Australia.

Vagrant to United States, mostly the north east, the west coast, and Alaska and the British Isles.

[edit] Taxonomy

This is a monotypic species^[1].

[edit] Habitat

Juvenile
Photo by alibenn
Beidaihe, China, September 2005

Breeds on tundra. During migration and in the winter feeds on bare sand or dry mud areas, tidal mudflats, lagoons, freshwater marshes, lakes and ricefields.

[edit] Behaviour

[edit] Breeding

It nests on the ground.

[edit] Diet

The diet includes insects and other small invertebrates.

[edit] References

1. Clements, JF. 2007. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019
2. Collins Field Guide 5th Edition ISBN 0 00 219900 9
3. Collins Bird Guide ISBN 0 00 219728
4. What Bird
5. BF Member observations

• List of references

[edit] External Links