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==Habitat== | ==Habitat== | ||
Salt marshes, mudflats. Sedge meadows. | Salt marshes, mudflats. Sedge meadows. | ||
| − | |||
==Behaviour== | ==Behaviour== | ||
====Breeding==== | ====Breeding==== | ||
It nests on the ground, 3-4 eggs are laid. | It nests on the ground, 3-4 eggs are laid. | ||
| + | [[Image:Iona170807 2 510t 1.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Photo by {{user|eastwood|eastwood}}<br />Iona, Richmond [[British Columbia]], August 2007]] | ||
====Diet==== | ====Diet==== | ||
The diet includes insects and other invertebrates. | The diet includes insects and other invertebrates. | ||
Revision as of 18:10, 9 July 2009
- Calidris himantopus
Micropalama himantopus
Identification
18-23 cm
- Long, yellowish-green legs
- Long neck
- Long bill, drooped at the tip
- White rump
- Grey tail
- Wings plain
- White supercillium
Breeding plumage heavily barred on the underside, with dark blotches on the back, and chestnut cheek patch.
Nonbreeding plumage all grey on back with lighter belly.
Similar Species
Lesser Yellowlegs, Curlew Sandpiper
Distribution
Alaska, Manitoba, Ontario. Spends winters in South America and Florida and southern California.
Vagrant to Europe, including the British Isles (these are mostly adults in late summer).
Shows the continuum of molting from non-breeding (basic) to breeding (alternate) plumage. The left bird is at more advanced stage of molting. Note partially-webbed toes on right foot of the right bird.
Photo by Chaiyan
Polk City Wildlife Area, central Iowa, May 2004
Photo by Chaiyan
Polk City Wildlife Area, central Iowa, May 2004
Taxonomy
The Stilt Sandpiper has been placed in the genus Micropalama by some authorities.(reference needed)
The species is monotypic.[1]
Habitat
Salt marshes, mudflats. Sedge meadows.
Behaviour
Breeding
It nests on the ground, 3-4 eggs are laid.
Diet
The diet includes insects and other invertebrates.
Vocalisation
Flight call: recalls Curlew Sandpiper's trrrp.
References
- Clements, JF. 2008. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2008. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.
- Collins Bird Guide ISBN 0 00 219728 6
- BF Member observations
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Stilt Sandpiper. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 6 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Stilt_Sandpiper
