Page 179 - Complete Birds of Britain and Europe (DK - RSPB)

WADERS
Order Charadriiformes Family Scolopacidae Species Calidris alba
Sanderling
pale grey
head

ADULT
(WINTER)

light grey
back straight
black bill
broad white
wingbar jet black bright white
dark bend
of wings legs underparts
IN FLIGHT
black spangling
on grey back
head and back marbled ADULT
buff, pale chestnut, (WINTER)
and black
buff on
breast
pale chestnut breast
with dark marbling,
pure white below
ADULT (SUMMER)
JUVENILE (AUTUMN)
he Sanderling stands out from FLIGHT: fast, low, often swirling round and back
Tthe other birds belonging to the again; groups well coordinated.
sandpiper family in appearance and general
behaviour. In winter, it is by far the whitest, and it is
particularly quick and nimble, darting along the waves
as they move in and out, to snatch up tiny items rolled
up by the surf.At high tide, Sanderlings and Dunlins
often mix, the Sanderlings making a paler splash
against the Dunlins in the packed roosting flock.
VOICE Sharp, hard, short plit or twik twik.
NESTING Scrape on ground part-filled with willow
leaves by chance; 4 eggs; 1 brood; May–July.
FEEDING Snatches marine worms, crustaceans, FEEDING ALONG WAVES
molluscs, sandhoppers, and similar animal matter Small groups of Sanderlings dash in and out along the edge of the waves
from beach. on a sandy beach.
SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRENCE
Breeds in northern tundra;
DUNLIN winter, slower otherwise, migrants in Europe
in actions; see p.178
longer bill from late summer to late spring.
Wintering flocks typically on broad
sandy beaches, but also found on
smaller shorelines of all kinds, sometimes
browner inland in May.
and LITTLE STINT
duller summer, pale “V” Seen in the UK
on back; see p.181 J F M A M JJ A S O N D
Length 20–21cm (8–8 1 ⁄2in) Wingspan 36–39cm (14–15 1 ⁄2in) Weight 50–60g (1 3 ⁄4 –2 1 ⁄8oz)
Social Winter flocks Lifespan Up to 10 years Status Secure
177