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Difference between revisions of "Sanderling" - BirdForum Opus

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[[Image:Calidris alba, summer adult, Fort Myers Beach, Florida.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Summer adult male<br />Photo &copy; by{{user|bobsofpa|bobsofpa}}<br />Fort Myers Beach, [[Florida]], May 2015]]
[[Image:MG 6313.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by {{user|Dave+Hutton|Dave Hutton}}<br />Photo taken: Farmoor Reservior, [[Oxfordshire]], [[England]]]]
 
 
;[[:Category:Calidris|Calidris]] alba
 
;[[:Category:Calidris|Calidris]] alba
  
 
==Identification==
 
==Identification==
Length 20-21 cm, mass 41-102 g. A relatively small wader with a straight, stubby, black bill and a dark carpal ("shoulder") patch. Upper parts are pale grey above and under parts white. The legs are black and of medium length.
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[[Image:MG 6313.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Adult moulting into summer plumage; probably female<br />Photo &copy; by {{user|Dave+Hutton|Dave Hutton}}<br />Farmoor Reservoir, [[Oxfordshire]], [[England]], May 2007]]
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Length 20-21 cm (7¾-8¼ in), wingspan 35-39 cm, weight 41-102 g. <br />
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A relatively small wader with a straight, stubby, black bill. The legs are black and of medium length and uniquely among ''Calidris'' species, lacking a hind toe.
 +
 
 +
Underparts always pure white. Summer plumage with brick-red to orange-tinged grey head and upper breast; mantle spangled orange, black and silver. Males tend to be brighter orange and females paler, more silvery. Winter adults plain silvery grey, with blackish primaries and a dark carpal ("shoulder") patch.<br />
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Juveniles spangled with black and silver to pale yellow-buff above.
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====Flight====
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In flight, strong white wingbar more conspicuous than in any other ''Calidris'' species.
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 +
====Confusion species====
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Summer adults can be confused with summer adult [[Red-necked Stint]] and [[Little Stint]]; Sanderling differs in being significantly larger, and in close views, by lacking a hind toe. The behaviour, fast running on sandy shores, is also usually distinct, though vagrant Sanderlings in muddy habitats can behave more stint-like.
  
 
==Distribution==
 
==Distribution==
Breeds in the far-northern Holarctic (concentrations in Canada, Greenland and Siberia); non-breeding range is worldwide. A summer visitor to [[Britain]].
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Breeds in the far-northern Holarctic (concentrations in [[Canada]], [[Greenland]] and [[Siberia]]); non-breeding range is on coasts worldwide (for example, a bird breeding in Greenland may winter anywhere from northern [[Europe]] to [[South Africa]]). A migrant (spring and autumn) and winter visitor to [[Britain]]. Rarely seen any distance inland.
  
 
==Taxonomy==
 
==Taxonomy==
Monotypic<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>; some authorities<sup>[[#References|[2]]]</sup> recognise two subspecies.
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[[Image:Calidris alba, winter adult, Fort Myers Beach, Florida.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Winter adult<br />Photo &copy; by {{user|bobsofpa|bobsofpa}}<br />Fort Myers Beach, [[Florida]], February 2015]]
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Treated by some authorities as [[Dictionary_M-O#M|monotypic]]<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>, while other authorities<sup>[[#References|[2]]]</sup><sup>[[#References|[3]]]</sup> recognise two subspecies:
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*''Calidris alba alba'' - breeds northeastern Canada, Greenland, Svalbard, and northern Siberia
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*''Calidris alba rubida'' - breeds north-central Canada and northern Alaska
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The two subspecies are very similar, distinguished only by small differences in morphometrics<sup>[[#References|[2]]]</sup>
  
 
==Habitat==
 
==Habitat==
Coasts.
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Nesting habitat is rocky tundra, while coasts and especially sandy beaches are used the rest of the year.
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==Behaviour==
 
==Behaviour==
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[[Image:Calidris alba, juvenile, Minsmere.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Juvenile<br />Photo &copy; by the late '''[https://www.birdforum.net/gallery/showgallery.php/ppuser/50827/cat/500 Mahsleb]'''<br />[[Minsmere]], [[England]], September 2014]]
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Typically runs very fast on sandy beaches at the edge of the waves, roosts in tight flocks on beaches or rocky outcrops just above the high water mark.
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====Diet====
 
Forages in flocks on beaches, usually in moist sand. The diet includes crustaceans, small marine worms, insects, fish and molluscs.
 
Forages in flocks on beaches, usually in moist sand. The diet includes crustaceans, small marine worms, insects, fish and molluscs.
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====Breeding====
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Three or four eggs are laid in a ground scrape. Some females lay one clutch which is then attended by both parents; others lay one clutch which they leave for the male to attend and shortly after a second clutch which is only attended by the female.
  
3-4 eggs are laid in a ground scrape.
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==References==
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#{{Ref-Clements6thAug17}}#{{Ref-EngelmoerRoselaar98}}#{{Ref-GillDonsker15V5.3}}#{{Ref-Hockeyetal05}}#[http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/s/sanderling/index.asp RSPB]
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#{{Ref-SinclairRyan03}}#[http://www.waderstudygroup.org/res/project/sanderling.php The Sanderling] study group homepage
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{{ref}}
  
 
==External Links==
 
==External Links==
{{GSearch|Sanderling}}
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Search the Gallery using the scientific name:
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{{GSearch|Calidris+alba}}
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<br />
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Search the Gallery using the common name:
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{{GSearch|"Sanderling"}}
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<br />
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Search the Gallery for videos of Sanderling:
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{{GSearch|"Sanderling", video}}
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{{GS-checked}}
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<br />
 
<br />
 
<br />
{{Video|Sanderling}}
 
 
==References==
 
#{{Ref-Clements6thNov08}}#{{Ref-EngelmoerRoselaar98}}#{{Ref-Hockeyetal05}}#{{Ref-SinclairRyan03}}#[http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/s/sanderling/index.asp RSPB]
 
{{ref}}
 
 
 
  
 
[[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Calidris]] [[Category:Videos]]
 
[[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Calidris]] [[Category:Videos]]

Revision as of 20:21, 14 February 2022

Summer adult male
Photo © bybobsofpa
Fort Myers Beach, Florida, May 2015
Calidris alba

Identification

Adult moulting into summer plumage; probably female
Photo © by Dave Hutton
Farmoor Reservoir, Oxfordshire, England, May 2007

Length 20-21 cm (7¾-8¼ in), wingspan 35-39 cm, weight 41-102 g.
A relatively small wader with a straight, stubby, black bill. The legs are black and of medium length and uniquely among Calidris species, lacking a hind toe.

Underparts always pure white. Summer plumage with brick-red to orange-tinged grey head and upper breast; mantle spangled orange, black and silver. Males tend to be brighter orange and females paler, more silvery. Winter adults plain silvery grey, with blackish primaries and a dark carpal ("shoulder") patch.
Juveniles spangled with black and silver to pale yellow-buff above.

Flight

In flight, strong white wingbar more conspicuous than in any other Calidris species.

Confusion species

Summer adults can be confused with summer adult Red-necked Stint and Little Stint; Sanderling differs in being significantly larger, and in close views, by lacking a hind toe. The behaviour, fast running on sandy shores, is also usually distinct, though vagrant Sanderlings in muddy habitats can behave more stint-like.

Distribution

Breeds in the far-northern Holarctic (concentrations in Canada, Greenland and Siberia); non-breeding range is on coasts worldwide (for example, a bird breeding in Greenland may winter anywhere from northern Europe to South Africa). A migrant (spring and autumn) and winter visitor to Britain. Rarely seen any distance inland.

Taxonomy

Winter adult
Photo © by bobsofpa
Fort Myers Beach, Florida, February 2015

Treated by some authorities as monotypic[1], while other authorities[2][3] recognise two subspecies:

  • Calidris alba alba - breeds northeastern Canada, Greenland, Svalbard, and northern Siberia
  • Calidris alba rubida - breeds north-central Canada and northern Alaska

The two subspecies are very similar, distinguished only by small differences in morphometrics[2]

Habitat

Nesting habitat is rocky tundra, while coasts and especially sandy beaches are used the rest of the year.

Behaviour

Juvenile
Photo © by the late Mahsleb
Minsmere, England, September 2014

Typically runs very fast on sandy beaches at the edge of the waves, roosts in tight flocks on beaches or rocky outcrops just above the high water mark.

Diet

Forages in flocks on beaches, usually in moist sand. The diet includes crustaceans, small marine worms, insects, fish and molluscs.

Breeding

Three or four eggs are laid in a ground scrape. Some females lay one clutch which is then attended by both parents; others lay one clutch which they leave for the male to attend and shortly after a second clutch which is only attended by the female.

References

  1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2017. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2017, with updates to August 2017. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
  2. Engelmoer, M., & Roselaar, C. S. (1998). Geographical Variation in Waders. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht. ISBN 9780792350200.
  3. Gill, F and D Donsker (Eds). 2015. IOC World Bird Names (version 5.3). Available at http://www.worldbirdnames.org/.
  4. Hockey, PAR, WRJ Dean, and PG Ryan, eds. 2005. Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa. 7th ed. Cape Town: John Voelcker Bird Book Fund. ISBN 978-0620340533
  5. RSPB
  6. Sinclair, I and P Ryan. 2003. Birds of Africa South of the Sahara. Princeton: Princeton Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0691118154
  7. The Sanderling study group homepage

Recommended Citation

External Links

Search the Gallery using the scientific name:


Search the Gallery using the common name:


Search the Gallery for videos of Sanderling:

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