Page 184 - Complete Birds of Britain and Europe (DK - RSPB)

WADERS
Order Charadriiformes Family Scolopacidae Species Calidris maritima
Purple Sandpiper rufous on slightly
head
curved,
dark bill
thin white whitish and rufous
wingbar edges to feathers
dark streaks
on breast
white
sides to
black ADULT
rump (WINTER)
broad brownish
streaks on cap
IN FLIGHT
scaly pattern
on wings ADULT
(SUMMER)
pale bill dull yellow
base legs
drab grey-
brown head
dark back with and neck
scaly white
feather edges
dull yellow-
based dark
JUVENILE bill
dark streaks white belly
ew waders are as tightly restricted to a particular on flanks
Fhabitat, or role, as the Purple Sandpiper, which is
essentially a bird of the very edge of the surf, searching ADULT
through wave-washed, seaweed-covered rocks for its food. orange- (WINTER)
Only rarely will one turn up inland. Unless it is with the yellow legs
more nervous Turnstones, it may well be absurdly tame.
Like most waders, the Purple Sandpiper will not leave FLIGHT: low, fast, darting flights from rock to rock.
for its breeding grounds until mid-May and can return
in July; hence it is present for most months of the year
in western Europe, despite being a non-breeding visitor.
VOICE Simple, low, liquid weet or weet-wit.
NESTING Slight scrape on ground, on wide open
tundra; 4 eggs; 1 brood; May–July.
FEEDING Variety of insects, spiders, and other
invertebrates, chiefly periwinkles and similar molluscs
in winter.
SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRENCE
Breeds in Iceland and Scandinavia,
PECTORAL SANDPIPER more buff on tundra and mountains. Wide-
see p.426
spread in winter, preferring rocky
shores, usually with plentiful sea-
weed, at times on bare rock and
dark stony beaches, also piers, harbour
much legs INCONSPICUOUS walls, and other artificial sites.
browner DUNLIN juvenile, A dark wader on dark, weedy
above similar to juvenile; rocks, the Purple Sandpiper is Seen in the UK
see p.178 J F M A M JJ AS O N D
easily overlooked.
Length 20–22cm (8–9in) Wingspan 40–44cm (16–17 1 ⁄2in) Weight 60–75g (2 1 ⁄8 –2 5 ⁄8oz)
Social Small flocks Lifespan Up to 10 years Status Secure†
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