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Common Sandpiper - BirdForum Opus

Photo © by I4ani
Doñana, Spain, May 2010
Actitis hypoleucos

Identification

18-20cm. Medium to small wader

  • Greyish-brown upperparts and breast
  • Obvious white gap between carpals and breast
  • White underparts
  • Yellow legs
  • Pale-based, dark tipped bill
  • White eye-ring
Juvenile
Photo © by markranner
Filey Dams, North Yorkshire, September 2010


Juvenile

  • Barred upperparts
  • Buff-edged wing feathers

Distribution

Breeds from western Europe to Japan between 30°N to 56°N.

Non-breeding range includes sub-Saharan Africa and Australia.

Taxonomy

This is a monotypic species[1].

Habitat

A wide variety of aquatic habitats, including shores of freshwater bodies, estuaries and salt-marshes.

Behaviour

Photo © by targetman
Lincolnshire, August 2009

Easily told by its bobbing habit as it walks along the shore. Found around freshwater bodies also breeds close to water in both habitats.

Diet

The diet includes insects and crustaceans.

Vocalisation

Quite a vocal bird. A high-pitched pee-pee-pee in flight.

References

  1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2015. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2015, with updates to August 2015. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
  2. Collins Bird Guide ISBN 0 00 219728
  3. Wikipedia

Recommended Citation

External Links


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