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Difference between revisions of "Least Sandpiper" - BirdForum Opus

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;Calidris minutilla
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[[Image:Least_Sandpiper.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Juvenile<br />Photo &copy; by {{user|JonB |JonB}}<br />Guelph Lake, [[Ontario]], [[Canada]], 17 August 2005]]
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[[Image:Least_Sandpiper.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by JonB]]
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;[[:Category:Calidris|Calidris]] minutilla
 
==Identification==
 
==Identification==
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Location:  Guelph Lake, Ontario
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[[Image:LeastSandpiperIMG 5724.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Winter plumage<br />Photo &copy; by {{user|jmorlan|Joseph Morlan}}<br />Staten Island, San Joaquin County, [[California]], [[USA]], 23 November 2019]]
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The Least Sandpiper, Calidris or Erolia minutilla, is the smallest shorebird.
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13–15 cm (5-6 in)<br />
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In most of its range, it is the only peep with yellow legs, but note distinction from [[Long-toed Stint]] below. Least Sandpiper has short thin dark bill, brown with dark brown streaks on top and white underneath. Light line above the eye and a dark crown.
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====Similar Species====
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[[Semipalmated Sandpiper]] is plump compact looking, more white to throat, has slightly heavier black legs, and semipalmations between toes. <br />
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[[Western Sandpiper]] is lanky looking, has black legs, and semipalmations between toes. In Breeding plumage is heavily spotted on belly and is grayish withrufous on crown, auriculars, and scapulars.<br />
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[[Long-toed Stint]] has a different lore pattern with a white teardrop shaped extension forward of the supercilium which loops down in front of the eye, ending before the bill. Long-toed also has a vertical dark mark in front of the eye and a thin sub-loral loop which together form a sideways "J" mark in all plumages.  Least has a straight lore stripe.  In juvenile plumage Least Sandpiper has buffy fringes to median coverts while Long-toed has these feathers white edged (lower scapulars are white tipped on both). Split supercilium often claimed as a feature of Long-toed Stint is not reliable.
  
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This species has yellowish legs and a short thin dark bill. Breeding adults are brown with dark brown streaks on top and white underneath. They have a light line above the eye and a dark crown. In winter, Least Sandpipers are grey above. The juveniles are brightly patterned above with rufous colouration and white mantle stripes.
 
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This bird can be difficult to distinguish from other similar tiny shorebirds; these are known collectively as "peeps" or "stints". In particular, Least Sandpiper is very similar to its Asian counterpart, Long-toed Stint . It differs from that species in its more compact, shorter-necked appearance, shorter toes, somewhat duller colours, and stronger wingbar.
 
 
==Distribution==
 
==Distribution==
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They migrate in flocks to the southern United States and northern South America. They occur as very rare vagrants in western Europe.
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[[United States]] and northern [[South America]]: breeds northern North America; winters to southern South America and [[Hawaii|Hawaiian Islands]].
 
==Taxonomy==
 
==Taxonomy==
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Formerly placed in genus ''Erolia''. In past, sometimes considered conspecific with [[Long-toed Stint]].
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====Subspecies====
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[[Image:1255692560 kqtPZ3C-L.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Breeding plumage<br />Photo &copy; by {{user|icassell|icassell}}<br />Gilbert, [[Arizona]], [[USA]], 17 April 2011]]
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This is a [[Dictionary_M-O#M|monotypic]] species<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>.
 
==Habitat==
 
==Habitat==
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Their breeding habitat is the northern North American continent on tundra or in bogs.  
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Tundra or in bogs. In migration found at mud flats, beachs, sod farms, etc.
 
==Behaviour==
 
==Behaviour==
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They nest on the ground near water. The female lays 4 eggs in a shallow scrape lined with grass and most. Both parents incubate; the female leaves before the young birds fledge and sometimes before the eggs hatch. The young birds feed themselves and are able to fly within two weeks of birth.
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Often in crouched position with knees very bent, feet planted forward (so far many times that they can appear to be feeding between their toes) and with belly much closer to ground than other peeps<sup>[[#References|2]]</sup>. Usually found on shore instead of wading.  
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These birds forage on mudflats, picking up food by sight, sometimes by probing. They mainly eat small crustaceans, insects and snails.
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====Breeding====
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The 4 eggs are laid in a shallow scrape on the ground, lined with grass and most. Both parents incubate.
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====Diet====
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These birds forage on mudflats; their diet includes small crustaceans, insects and snails.
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====Vocalisations====
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Typical flight call is a high-pitched slightly rolled ''kree-eeet''. Other calls and songs during breeding season. 
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====Movements====
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Migratory. Moves in broad front over interior North America to Southern USA, Greater Antilles, Gulf of Mexico, Middle America and northern South America.
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==References==
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#{{Ref-Clements6thAug19}}#Cox, Cameron. ''North American Peeps: A Different Look at an Old Problem'' (http://surfbirds.com/Features/coxpeeps1006/coxpeeps1006.html).
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#[https://thewebsiteofeverything.com/animals/birds/Charadriiformes/Scolopacidae/Calidris-minutilla The Website of Everything]
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#Chandler, R. (2009). Shorebirds of North America, Europe, and Asia: A photographic guide. Princeton.
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#Nebel, S. and J. M. Cooper (2008). Least Sandpiper (''Calidris minutilla''), version 2.0. In The Birds of North America (A. F. Poole, Editor). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bna.115
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#Van Gils, J., Wiersma, P. & Kirwan, G.M. (2020). Least Sandpiper (''Calidris minutilla''). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from https://www.hbw.com/node/53930 on 1 March 2020).
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{{ref}}
  
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==External Links==
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{{GSearch|"Calidris minutilla" {{!}} "Least Sandpiper"}}
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{{GS-checked}}1
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<br />
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<br />
  
  
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==External Links==
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[[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Calidris]]
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*[http://www.birdforum.net/pp_gallery/showgallery.php?mcats=all&what=allfields&si=Calidris+minutilla View more images of Least Sandpiper in the gallery]
 
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[[Category:Birds]]
 

Latest revision as of 20:20, 21 February 2023

Juvenile
Photo © by JonB
Guelph Lake, Ontario, Canada, 17 August 2005
Calidris minutilla

Identification

Winter plumage
Photo © by Joseph Morlan
Staten Island, San Joaquin County, California, USA, 23 November 2019

13–15 cm (5-6 in)
In most of its range, it is the only peep with yellow legs, but note distinction from Long-toed Stint below. Least Sandpiper has short thin dark bill, brown with dark brown streaks on top and white underneath. Light line above the eye and a dark crown.

Similar Species

Semipalmated Sandpiper is plump compact looking, more white to throat, has slightly heavier black legs, and semipalmations between toes.
Western Sandpiper is lanky looking, has black legs, and semipalmations between toes. In Breeding plumage is heavily spotted on belly and is grayish withrufous on crown, auriculars, and scapulars.
Long-toed Stint has a different lore pattern with a white teardrop shaped extension forward of the supercilium which loops down in front of the eye, ending before the bill. Long-toed also has a vertical dark mark in front of the eye and a thin sub-loral loop which together form a sideways "J" mark in all plumages. Least has a straight lore stripe. In juvenile plumage Least Sandpiper has buffy fringes to median coverts while Long-toed has these feathers white edged (lower scapulars are white tipped on both). Split supercilium often claimed as a feature of Long-toed Stint is not reliable.

Distribution

United States and northern South America: breeds northern North America; winters to southern South America and Hawaiian Islands.

Taxonomy

Formerly placed in genus Erolia. In past, sometimes considered conspecific with Long-toed Stint.

Subspecies

Breeding plumage
Photo © by icassell
Gilbert, Arizona, USA, 17 April 2011

This is a monotypic species[1].

Habitat

Tundra or in bogs. In migration found at mud flats, beachs, sod farms, etc.

Behaviour

Often in crouched position with knees very bent, feet planted forward (so far many times that they can appear to be feeding between their toes) and with belly much closer to ground than other peeps2. Usually found on shore instead of wading.

Breeding

The 4 eggs are laid in a shallow scrape on the ground, lined with grass and most. Both parents incubate.

Diet

These birds forage on mudflats; their diet includes small crustaceans, insects and snails.

Vocalisations

Typical flight call is a high-pitched slightly rolled kree-eeet. Other calls and songs during breeding season.

Movements

Migratory. Moves in broad front over interior North America to Southern USA, Greater Antilles, Gulf of Mexico, Middle America and northern South America.

References

  1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, S. M. Billerman, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2019. The eBird/Clements Checklist of Birds of the World: v2019. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
  2. Cox, Cameron. North American Peeps: A Different Look at an Old Problem (http://surfbirds.com/Features/coxpeeps1006/coxpeeps1006.html).
  3. The Website of Everything
  4. Chandler, R. (2009). Shorebirds of North America, Europe, and Asia: A photographic guide. Princeton.
  5. Nebel, S. and J. M. Cooper (2008). Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla), version 2.0. In The Birds of North America (A. F. Poole, Editor). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bna.115
  6. Van Gils, J., Wiersma, P. & Kirwan, G.M. (2020). Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from https://www.hbw.com/node/53930 on 1 March 2020).

Recommended Citation

External Links

GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1

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