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Difference between revisions of "Dunlin" - BirdForum Opus

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;[[:Category:Calidris|Calidris]] alpina
 
;[[:Category:Calidris|Calidris]] alpina
 
==Identification==
 
==Identification==
−
L 17-21 cm (6¾-8¼ in), WS 32-36 cm.<br />
+
Length 17–21 cm (6¾-8¼ in), wingspan 32–36 cm, weight 33–85 g<br />
−
Black bill, with de-curved tip<br />
+
Black bill, with de-curved tip; black legs.<br />
 
[[Image:Dunlin.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Juvenile<br />Photo by {{user|CJW|CJW}}<br />Smeale, [[Isle of Man]], 31 July 2004]]
 
[[Image:Dunlin.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Juvenile<br />Photo by {{user|CJW|CJW}}<br />Smeale, [[Isle of Man]], 31 July 2004]]
 
'''Breeding'''
 
'''Breeding'''
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*Rufous areas become grey and belly all white<br />
 
*Rufous areas become grey and belly all white<br />
 
'''Juvenile'''
 
'''Juvenile'''
−
*Similar to summer adult above but fringes less rufous; underparts white with blackish streaks on flanks
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*Similar to summer adult above but fringes less rufous; underparts pale buff breast grading to white belly with blackish streaks on breast and 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]].

Revision as of 16:18, 15 April 2017

C. a. alpina summer adult
Photo by Steinn
Svalbard, Norway, 3 August 2012. Bright; short-billed.
Calidris alpina

Identification

Length 17–21 cm (6¾-8¼ in), wingspan 32–36 cm, weight 33–85 g
Black bill, with de-curved tip; black legs.

Juvenile
Photo by CJW
Smeale, Isle of Man, 31 July 2004

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
  • 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 pale buff breast grading to white belly with blackish streaks on breast and 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 summer adult
Photo by Helios
North Uist, Scotland, 26 June 2014. Dull; short-billed.
  • 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 summer adult
Photo by bobsofpa
On spring passage, Bombay Hook NWR, Delaware, USA, 20 May 2016. Bright; long-billed.
  • C. a. hudsonia:

The subspecies are distinguishable by bill length, and intensity of colour of the summer plumage. Winter and juvenile plumage birds are often not reliably distinguishable to subspecies, with only bill length differing.

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

Juvenile in flight
Photo by mali
Elmley Marshes, Kent, September 2016

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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