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Difference between revisions of "Dunlin" - BirdForum Opus

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[[Image:Dunlin.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by {{user|CJW|CJW}}<br />Smeale, [[Isle of Man]]]]
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[[Image:Dunlin summer adult, Svalbard.jpg|thumb|550px|right|'C. a. alpina'' summer adult<br />Photo by {{user|steinn|Steinn}}<br />Svalbard, [[Norway]], 3 August 2012]]
 
;[[:Category:Calidris|Calidris]] alpina
 
;[[:Category:Calidris|Calidris]] alpina
 
==Identification==
 
==Identification==
Line 9: Line 9:
 
*White sides to rump and tail
 
*White sides to rump and tail
 
*White breast with darker streaks
 
*White breast with darker streaks
−
[[Image:05-11-09 Dunlin1.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Breeding Plumage<br />Photo by {{user|robert+s|robert s}}<br />Milford Point, [[Connecticut]], [[USA]], May 2009]]
+
[[Image:Dunlin.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Juvenile<br />Photo by {{user|CJW|CJW}}<br />Smeale, [[Isle of Man]], 31 July 2004]]
 
*Black belly
 
*Black belly
 
*White undertail [[Topography#General Anatomy|coverts]]<br />
 
*White undertail [[Topography#General Anatomy|coverts]]<br />
 
'''Non-breeding'''
 
'''Non-breeding'''
−
*Rufous areas become grey and belly all white
+
*Rufous areas become grey and belly all white<br />
 +
'''Juvenile'''
 +
*Similar to summer adult above but fringes less rufous; underparts white with blackish streaks on flanks
 
==Distribution==
 
==Distribution==
 
Breeding birds from northern [[Europe]] and [[Asia]] winter in [[Africa]] and southeast [[Asia]]. Those that have bred in [[Alaska]] and the [[Canada|Canadian]] Arctic move down to the Pacific and Atlantic coasts of [[North America]].
 
Breeding birds from northern [[Europe]] and [[Asia]] winter in [[Africa]] and southeast [[Asia]]. Those that have bred in [[Alaska]] and the [[Canada|Canadian]] Arctic move down to the Pacific and Atlantic coasts of [[North America]].
 
==Taxonomy==
 
==Taxonomy==
 +
Most closely related to the [[Purple Sandpiper]] — [[Rock Sandpiper]] species pair, and after them, to [[Sanderling]]<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>.
 
====Subspecies====
 
====Subspecies====
−
There are 9 subspecies<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>:
+
Depending on authority, nine<sup>[[#References|[2]]]</sup> or ten<sup>[[#References|[3]]]</sup> subspecies are accepted:
−
*''C. a. arcticola'':
 
−
:*North-western [[Alaska]] and north-western [[Canada]]; winters eastern [[China]], [[Korea]] and [[Japan]]I
 
−
*''C. a. pacifica'':
 
−
:*South-western [[Alaska]]; winters in western [[US]] and western [[Mexico]]
 
−
*''C. a. hudsonia'':
 
−
:*Central [[Canada]]; winters south-eastern [[US]] and eastern [[Mexico]]
 
−
[[Image:Dunlin 5392 .jpg|thumb|300px|right|Photo by {{user|mali|mali}}<br />[[Elmley Marshes]], [[Kent]]**, September 2016 ]]
 
 
*''C. a. arctica'':
 
*''C. a. arctica'':
−
:*North-eastern [[Greenland]]; winters mainly north-western [[Africa]]
+
:*Northeastern [[Greenland]]; winters mainly northwestern [[Africa]]
 
*''C. a. schinzii'':
 
*''C. a. schinzii'':
−
:*[[Greenland]] and [[Iceland]] to southern [[Scandinavia]]; winters to north-western [[Africa]]
+
:*Southeastern [[Greenland]] and [[Iceland]] to [[Britain]] and southern [[Scandinavia]]; winters from Britain to northwestern [[Africa]]
 
*''C. a. alpina'':
 
*''C. a. alpina'':
−
:*[[Scandinavia]] to eastern [[Russia]]; winters to [[Mediterranean]] and [[India]]
+
:*[[Scandinavia]] to northwestern [[Russia]]; winters from Britain to [[Mediterranean]]
 +
*''C. a. centralis'':
 +
:*North central to northeastern [[Russia]]; winters [[India]] (included in ''C. a. alpina'' by some authorities<sup>[[#References|[2]]]</sup>)
 
*''C. a. sakhalina'':
 
*''C. a. sakhalina'':
−
:*[[Russia]] to Chukotsk Peninsula; winters [[China]], [[Japan]] and [[Taiwan]]
+
:*Far eastern [[Russia]] to Chukotsk Peninsula; winters [[China]], [[Japan]] and [[Taiwan]]
 +
*''C. a. kistchinskii'':
 +
:*Sea of Okhotsk to Kuril Islands; wintering grounds unknown
 
*''C. a. actites'':
 
*''C. a. actites'':
 
:*Northern Sakhalin; wintering grounds unknown
 
:*Northern Sakhalin; wintering grounds unknown
−
*''C. a. kistchinskii'':
+
*''C. a. arcticola'':
−
:*Sea of Okhotsk to Kuril Islands; wintering grounds unknown
+
:*Northwestern [[Alaska]] and northwestern [[Canada]]; winters eastern [[China]], [[Korea]] and [[Japan]]I
−
 
+
*''C. a. pacifica'':
−
A 10th subspecies ''centralis'' is not recognised by all authorities<sup>[[#References|[2]]]</sup>
+
:*South-western [[Alaska]]; winters in western [[US]] and western [[Mexico]]
 +
*''C. a. hudsonia'':
 +
:*Central [[Canada]]; winters south-eastern [[US]] and eastern [[Mexico]]
 +
[[Image:Dunlin 5392 .jpg|thumb|300px|right|Juvenile in flight<br />Photo by {{user|mali|mali}}<br />[[Elmley Marshes]], [[Kent]], September 2016 ]]
  
 
==Habitat==
 
==Habitat==
−
Breeds on low or high ground, in wet short-grass or tundra habitats; on migration (in autumn adults in late July-August, juveniles in late August-October), found in a variety of marshy or coastal habitats, but most numerous on tidal flats or on banks of seaweed on shallow shores.
+
Breeds on low or high ground, in wet short-grass or tundra habitats; on migration (in autumn, adults in late July-August, juveniles in late August-October), found in a variety of marshy or coastal habitats, but most numerous on tidal flats or on banks of seaweed on shallow shores.
  
 
Coastal mudflats and beaches.
 
Coastal mudflats and beaches.
 
==Behaviour==
 
==Behaviour==
−
They form huge winter flocks, often mixing with [[Ringed Plover]] and [[Sanderling]]
+
They form huge winter flocks, mainly on tidal mudflats (less often in freshwater), often mixing with [[Ringed Plover]], [[Red Knot]], and other ''[[:Category:Calidris|Calidris]]'' species.
 
====Diet====
 
====Diet====
 
The diet includes insects, snails and worms.
 
The diet includes insects, snails and worms.
Line 57: Line 60:
 
''[[Media:Calidris alpina (song).mp3|Listen in an external program]]''
 
''[[Media:Calidris alpina (song).mp3|Listen in an external program]]''
 
==References==
 
==References==
−
#{{Ref-Clements6thAug16}}#Avibase
+
#Gibson, R., & Baker, A. (2012). Multiple gene sequences resolve phylogenetic relationships in the shorebird suborder Scolopaci (Aves: Charadriiformes). ''Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution'' 64: 66-72.
 +
#{{Ref-Clements6thAug16}}#{{Ref-GillDonsker17V7.1}}#Avibase
 
#Wikipedia
 
#Wikipedia
 
#Collins Pocket Guide to British Birds 1966
 
#Collins Pocket Guide to British Birds 1966

Revision as of 15:25, 15 April 2017

'C. a. alpina summer adult
Photo by Steinn
Svalbard, Norway, 3 August 2012
Calidris alpina

Identification

L 17-21 cm (6¾-8¼ in), WS 32-36 cm.
Black bill, with de-curved tip
Breeding

  • Crown and upperparts rufous, streaked darker
  • Wings: greyish brown, with pale bar and dark tips
  • White sides to rump and tail
  • White breast with darker streaks
Juvenile
Photo by CJW
Smeale, Isle of Man, 31 July 2004
  • Black belly
  • White undertail coverts

Non-breeding

  • Rufous areas become grey and belly all white

Juvenile

  • Similar to summer adult above but fringes less rufous; underparts white with blackish streaks on flanks

Distribution

Breeding birds from northern Europe and Asia winter in Africa and southeast Asia. Those that have bred in Alaska and the Canadian Arctic move down to the Pacific and Atlantic coasts of North America.

Taxonomy

Most closely related to the Purple Sandpiper — Rock Sandpiper species pair, and after them, to Sanderling[1].

Subspecies

Depending on authority, nine[2] or ten[3] subspecies are accepted:

  • C. a. arctica:
  • C. a. schinzii:
  • C. a. alpina:
  • C. a. centralis:
  • North central to northeastern Russia; winters India (included in C. a. alpina by some authorities[2])
  • C. a. sakhalina:
  • C. a. kistchinskii:
  • Sea of Okhotsk to Kuril Islands; wintering grounds unknown
  • C. a. actites:
  • Northern Sakhalin; wintering grounds unknown
  • C. a. arcticola:
  • C. a. pacifica:
  • C. a. hudsonia:
Juvenile in flight
Photo by mali
Elmley Marshes, Kent, September 2016

Habitat

Breeds on low or high ground, in wet short-grass or tundra habitats; on migration (in autumn, adults in late July-August, juveniles in late August-October), found in a variety of marshy or coastal habitats, but most numerous on tidal flats or on banks of seaweed on shallow shores.

Coastal mudflats and beaches.

Behaviour

They form huge winter flocks, mainly on tidal mudflats (less often in freshwater), often mixing with Ringed Plover, Red Knot, and other Calidris species.

Diet

The diet includes insects, snails and worms.

Breeding

They nest in a shallow scrape on the ground lined with vegetation. The 4 eggs are incubated by both adults. The male cares for the young.

Vocalisation

Song: a trill.
Flight Call: treep or chreet <flashmp3>Calidris alpina (song).mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program

References

  1. Gibson, R., & Baker, A. (2012). Multiple gene sequences resolve phylogenetic relationships in the shorebird suborder Scolopaci (Aves: Charadriiformes). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 64: 66-72.
  2. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2016. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2016, with updates to August 2016. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
  3. Gill, F and D Donsker (Eds). 2017. IOC World Bird Names (version 7.1). Available at http://www.worldbirdnames.org/.
  4. Avibase
  5. Wikipedia
  6. Collins Pocket Guide to British Birds 1966
  7. Collins Bird Guide ISBN 0 00 219728 6

Recommended Citation

External Links


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