From Opus

Photo by jourdaj
Point Mouillee State Game Area, Monroe, Michigan, USA, July 2006

Calidris himantopus

Micropalama himantopus

[edit] Identification

18-23 cm

• Long, yellowish-green legs
• Long neck
• Long bill, drooped at the tip
• White rump
• Grey tail
• Wings plain
• White supercillium
  

Breeding plumage heavily barred on the underside, with dark blotches on the back, and chestnut cheek patch.
Nonbreeding plumage all grey on back with lighter belly.

[edit] Flight

Palish trailing edge; no obvious wing bars.

[edit] Similar Species

Lesser Yellowlegs, Curlew Sandpiper

[edit] Distribution

Shows the continuum of molting from non-breeding (basic) to breeding (alternate) plumage. The left bird is at more advanced stage of molting. Note partially-webbed toes on right foot of the right bird.
Photo by Chaiyan
Polk City Wildlife Area, central Iowa, May 2004

Alaska, Manitoba, Ontario. Spends winters in South America and Florida and southern California.

Vagrant to Europe, including the British Isles (these are mostly adults in late summer).

[edit] Taxonomy

The species is monotypic.^[1]

The Stilt Sandpiper has been placed in the genus Micropalama by some authorities.^[2]

[edit] Habitat

Salt marshes, mudflats. Sedge meadows.

[edit] Behaviour

Often wades in deep water, along with Redshank and Ruff

[edit] Breeding

It nests on the ground, 3-4 eggs are laid.

[edit] Diet

Photo by eastwood
Iona, Richmond British Columbia, August 2007

The diet includes insects and other invertebrates.

[edit] Vocalisation

Flight call: recalls Curlew Sandpiper's trrrp.

[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. Avibase
3. Collins Bird Guide ISBN 0 00 219728 6
4. BF Member observations

• List of references

[edit] External Links

• View more images of this species on Orientalbirdimages