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;Tringa solitaria | ;Tringa solitaria | ||
− | [[Image:Solitary_Sandpiper.jpg|thumb| | + | [[Image:Solitary_Sandpiper.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by smackay]] |
− | + | ==Identification== | |
+ | This species is a dumpy wader with a dark green back, greyish head and breast and otherwise white underparts. It is obvious in flight, with wings dark above and below, and a dark rump and tail centre. The latter feature distinguishes it from the slightly larger and broader-winged, but otherwise very similar, Green Sandpiper of Europe and Asia, to which it is closely related. The latter species has a brilliant white rump. In flight, the Solitary Sandpiper has a characteristic three-note whistle. | ||
+ | ==Distribution== | ||
+ | It breeds in woodlands across Alaska and Canada. It is a migratory bird, wintering in Central and South America, especially in the Amazon River basin, and the Caribbean. It is a very rare vagrant to western Europe. | ||
+ | ==Taxonomy== | ||
The Solitary Sandpiper, Tringa solitaria, is a small wader (shorebird). Its only close relative in the genus Tringa is the Green Sandpiper (Pereira & Baker, 2005); they both have brown wings with little light dots, and a delicate but contrasting neck and chest pattern In addition, both species nest in trees, unlike most other scolopacids. | The Solitary Sandpiper, Tringa solitaria, is a small wader (shorebird). Its only close relative in the genus Tringa is the Green Sandpiper (Pereira & Baker, 2005); they both have brown wings with little light dots, and a delicate but contrasting neck and chest pattern In addition, both species nest in trees, unlike most other scolopacids. | ||
+ | ==Habitat== | ||
+ | The Solitary Sandpiper is very much a bird of fresh water, and is often found in sites, such as ditches, too restricted for other waders, which tend to like a clear all-round view | ||
+ | ==Behaviour== | ||
+ | This is not a gregarious species, usually seen alone during migration, although sometimes small numbers congregate in suitable feeding areas. . | ||
− | + | Food is small invertebrates, sometimes small frogs, picked off the mud as this species works steadily around the edges of its chosen pond | |
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The Solitary Sandpiper lays 3-5 eggs in an old tree nest of a songbird species, such as a thrush. The young birds are believed to drop to the ground on their own soon after hatching. | The Solitary Sandpiper lays 3-5 eggs in an old tree nest of a songbird species, such as a thrush. The young birds are believed to drop to the ground on their own soon after hatching. | ||
+ | ==External Links== | ||
+ | {{GSearch|Solitary+Sandpiper}} | ||
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[[Category:Birds]] | [[Category:Birds]] |
Revision as of 14:14, 26 May 2007
- Tringa solitaria
Identification
This species is a dumpy wader with a dark green back, greyish head and breast and otherwise white underparts. It is obvious in flight, with wings dark above and below, and a dark rump and tail centre. The latter feature distinguishes it from the slightly larger and broader-winged, but otherwise very similar, Green Sandpiper of Europe and Asia, to which it is closely related. The latter species has a brilliant white rump. In flight, the Solitary Sandpiper has a characteristic three-note whistle.
Distribution
It breeds in woodlands across Alaska and Canada. It is a migratory bird, wintering in Central and South America, especially in the Amazon River basin, and the Caribbean. It is a very rare vagrant to western Europe.
Taxonomy
The Solitary Sandpiper, Tringa solitaria, is a small wader (shorebird). Its only close relative in the genus Tringa is the Green Sandpiper (Pereira & Baker, 2005); they both have brown wings with little light dots, and a delicate but contrasting neck and chest pattern In addition, both species nest in trees, unlike most other scolopacids.
Habitat
The Solitary Sandpiper is very much a bird of fresh water, and is often found in sites, such as ditches, too restricted for other waders, which tend to like a clear all-round view
Behaviour
This is not a gregarious species, usually seen alone during migration, although sometimes small numbers congregate in suitable feeding areas. .
Food is small invertebrates, sometimes small frogs, picked off the mud as this species works steadily around the edges of its chosen pond
The Solitary Sandpiper lays 3-5 eggs in an old tree nest of a songbird species, such as a thrush. The young birds are believed to drop to the ground on their own soon after hatching.