- 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.
Flight
Palish trailing edge; no obvious wing bars.
Similar Species
Lesser Yellowlegs, Curlew Sandpiper
Distribution
Photo by Chaiyan
Polk City Wildlife Area, central Iowa, May 2004
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).
Taxonomy
The species is monotypic.[1]
The Stilt Sandpiper has been placed in the genus Micropalama by some authorities.[2]
Habitat
Salt marshes, mudflats. Sedge meadows.
Behaviour
Often wades in deep water, along with Redshank and Ruff
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.
- 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
