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*Long, yellowish-green legs | *Long, yellowish-green legs | ||
*Long neck | *Long neck | ||
| − | *Long bill, | + | *Long bill, slightly drooping at the tip |
| − | |||
*Grey tail | *Grey tail | ||
*Wings plain | *Wings plain | ||
*White supercillium<br /> | *White supercillium<br /> | ||
| − | '''Breeding''' plumage heavily barred on the underside, with dark blotches on the back, and chestnut cheek patch.<br | + | '''Breeding''' plumage heavily barred on the underside, with dark blotches on the back, and chestnut cheek patch; rump mottled dark on white.<br> |
| − | '''Nonbreeding''' plumage all | + | '''Nonbreeding''' plumage all gray on back with lighter belly; rump white.<br> |
| + | '''Juvenile''' browner above, with dark mantle feathers fringed red-brown and wing coverts fringed whitish giving a 'scaly' appearance; buffy breast grading into white belly; rump white. | ||
====Flight==== | ====Flight==== | ||
| − | + | Plain upperwing with no obvious wing bars; underwing with white axillaries. | |
====Similar Species==== | ====Similar Species==== | ||
| − | [[Lesser Yellowlegs]], [[Curlew Sandpiper]] | + | [[Lesser Yellowlegs]], [[Curlew Sandpiper]], [[Wood Sandpiper]]. |
==Distribution== | ==Distribution== | ||
| − | [[Image:2865SandpiperStiltDSCN6635.jpg|thumb|350px|right| | + | [[Image:2865SandpiperStiltDSCN6635.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Two birds molting into breeding plumage on spring passage. The left bird is at a more advanced stage of molt. Note partially-webbed toes on right foot of the right bird. <br />Photo by {{user|Chaiyan|Chaiyan}}<br />[[Polk City Wildlife Area]], central [[Iowa]], May 2004]] |
| − | [[Alaska]], | + | Breeds on tundra close to the Arctic Sea coasts of northern [[Alaska]], northern [[Yukon]], [[Northwest Territories]], and [[Nunavut]], and the [[Hudson Bay]] shore of [[Manitoba]]. On migration on open freshwater pools throughout [[North America|North]] and northern [[South America]], though scarce west of the Great Plains. Winters in [[South America]] from [[Peru]] to northern [[Argentina]]; a few also winter in [[Florida]] and southern [[California]]. |
| − | + | Vagrant to [[Europe]], including the [[British Isles]], mostly adults in late summer. | |
==Taxonomy== | ==Taxonomy== | ||
This is a [[Dictionary_M-S#M|monotypic]] species<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>. | This is a [[Dictionary_M-S#M|monotypic]] species<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>. | ||
| − | The Stilt Sandpiper | + | The Stilt Sandpiper was formerly placed in the genus ''[[:Category:Micropalama|Micropalama]]'' by most authorities, but this treatment was found to leave the genus ''Calidris'' [[Dictionary_M-S#P|paraphyletic]].<sup>[[#References|[2]]]</sup> |
==Habitat== | ==Habitat== | ||
Salt marshes, mudflats. Sedge meadows. | Salt marshes, mudflats. Sedge meadows. | ||
==Behaviour== | ==Behaviour== | ||
| − | Often wades in deep water, | + | Often wades in deep water, often mixing with other ''Calidris'' species or with [[Long-billed Dowitcher]]s and [[Lesser Yellowlegs]]. |
====Breeding==== | ====Breeding==== | ||
It nests on the ground, 3-4 eggs are laid. | It nests on the ground, 3-4 eggs are laid. | ||
====Diet==== | ====Diet==== | ||
| − | [[Image:Iona170807 2 510t 1.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Photo by {{user|eastwood|eastwood}}<br />Iona, Richmond [[British Columbia]], August 2007]] | + | [[Image:Iona170807 2 510t 1.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Juvenile<br>Photo by {{user|eastwood|eastwood}}<br />Iona, Richmond [[British Columbia]], August 2007]] |
The diet includes insects and other invertebrates. | The diet includes insects and other invertebrates. | ||
====Vocalisation==== | ====Vocalisation==== | ||
Revision as of 23:45, 6 November 2014
- Calidris himantopus
Micropalama himantopus
Identification
18-23 cm
- Long, yellowish-green legs
- Long neck
- Long bill, slightly drooping at the tip
- Grey tail
- Wings plain
- White supercillium
Breeding plumage heavily barred on the underside, with dark blotches on the back, and chestnut cheek patch; rump mottled dark on white.
Nonbreeding plumage all gray on back with lighter belly; rump white.
Juvenile browner above, with dark mantle feathers fringed red-brown and wing coverts fringed whitish giving a 'scaly' appearance; buffy breast grading into white belly; rump white.
Flight
Plain upperwing with no obvious wing bars; underwing with white axillaries.
Similar Species
Lesser Yellowlegs, Curlew Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper.
Distribution
Photo by Chaiyan
Polk City Wildlife Area, central Iowa, May 2004
Breeds on tundra close to the Arctic Sea coasts of northern Alaska, northern Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut, and the Hudson Bay shore of Manitoba. On migration on open freshwater pools throughout North and northern South America, though scarce west of the Great Plains. Winters in South America from Peru to northern Argentina; a few also winter in Florida and southern California.
Vagrant to Europe, including the British Isles, mostly adults in late summer.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species[1].
The Stilt Sandpiper was formerly placed in the genus Micropalama by most authorities, but this treatment was found to leave the genus Calidris paraphyletic.[2]
Habitat
Salt marshes, mudflats. Sedge meadows.
Behaviour
Often wades in deep water, often mixing with other Calidris species or with Long-billed Dowitchers and Lesser Yellowlegs.
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, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2014. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: Version 6.9., with updates to August 2014. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Avibase
- 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
External Links
