Broad-billed Sandpiper - BirdForum Opus

Photo © by Peter Ericsson
Samot Sakorn, Thailand, November 2006

Calidris falcinellus

Limicola falcinellus

Identification

16–18 cm (6¼-7 in)
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

Similar Species

Can be confused with Dunlin.

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 (C.f.falcinellus).

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

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

Taxonomy

Formerly placed in the genus Limicola.

Subspecies

There are 2 subspecies^[1]:

C. f. falcinellus:

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

C. f. sibirica:

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

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.

Behaviour

Breeding

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

Diet

The diet includes insects and other small invertebrates.

Vocalisation

References

Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2018. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2018. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
Collins Field Guide 5th Edition ISBN 0 00 219900 9
Wikipedia
BF Member observations

List of references

Recommended Citation

BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Broad-billed Sandpiper. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 11 May 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Broad-billed_Sandpiper

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