Adult in breeding plumage. Photo by Jvhigbee
- Actitis macularia
Actitis macularius
Identification
18-20cm
- Brown upperparts
- White below, spotted black
- White wing stripe
- Short yellow legs
- Orange bill with a black tip
- Dark eye-line with thin white superciliary
Non-breeding birds do not have the spotted underparts.
Similar Species
Distribution
Breeds North America (Canada and the United States); winters to southern South America
A regular vagrant to Europe. There is thought to have been a breeding attempt in Scotland.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species[1].
One subspecies (A. m. ravus) is recognised by some authorities[2]
Habitat
Fresh water, ponds, streams, and other waterways, both inland and along coasts.
Behaviour
Breeding
They nest on the ground. Females may mate with more than one male, leaving incubation to them.
Diet
The diet includes insects, crustaceans and other invertebrates, from the ground or in the water. They may also catch insects in flight.
References
- Clements, JF. 2011. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to August 2011. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/downloadable-clements-checklist
- Avibase
- Collins Bird Guide ISBN 0 00 219728 6
- Wikipedia
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Spotted Sandpiper. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 3 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Spotted_Sandpiper
External Links
