SANDPIPERS
BY
SHERRY OWENS
TAXONOMY
CLASS- Aves
ORDER- Charadriiformes
FAMILY- Scolopacidae
HISTORY
87 species of sandpipers
23 found in the U.S
11 of which can be seen in KY
Found on shores and in wetlands
They do not swim
Beak and tongue allow to eat “biofilm”
MIGRATION
Many breed in the
arctic and establish
a territory for 2
months
Nest in the ground
Depend on prairie
potholes as a
“stopover”
At this time they
double their weight
in a few weeks
Can fly 70hrs. At
60mph and cover
2,000 miles
MATING
Develop complex
plumage for winter
and breeding
Courtship displays
include the “wing
up”
Pair bond is formed
through incubation
Re-nesting may
occur
Male and female
participate in
nesting
One part on nest
95% of the time
Wing-up
YOUNG
Young can feed
themselves after
hatching
However are
brooded for 1 week
Are accompanied by
an adult for 2 weeks
SOLITARY SANDPIPER
Tringa solitaria
Length- 7 in.
Small, long, greenish
legs
Bold white eye ring
Dark rump and
underwing
Clutch Size- 4
Incubation- 23-24 days?
Diet: aquatic
invertebrates
Sexes similar
Common migrant in
KY
Solitary
UPLAND SANDPIPER
Bartramia longicauda
Length- 10in.
Long neck and small
head
Long yellow legs
Thin, short bill
Large dark eyes,
pale face
Black rump, long tail
with dark bars
Sexes similar
Neotropical migrant
Breeding- grassland
Clutch size- 4
Incubation- 21-27
days
Diet: insect
Some worms and
seeds
Upland
SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER
Calidris pusilla
Length- 5 in.
Dark legs
Short, thin bill
Thin, white wing
stripe
Gray crown and
cheeks
Black back feathers
Sexes similar
Clutch size- 4
Incubation- 18-22
days
Diet: aquatic
invertebrates
Some seeds
Semipalmated
WESTERN SANDPIPER
Calidris mauri
Length- 5.25 in
Dark legs
White underparts
Very similar to
semipalmated
Sexes similar
Clutch size- 4
Incubation- 20-22
days
Diet: aquatic
invertebrates
Western
LEAST SANDPIPER
Calidris minutilla
Length- 4.75 in
Yellow legs
Dark, slightly curved
bill
Brown head
White underparts
Brown breast with
black spotting
Sexes similar
Clutch size- 4
Incubation- 19-23
days
Least
WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER
Calidris fuscicollis
Length- 6.25 in
Black legs
Short, thin curved
bill
Long wings
Sexes similar
Clutch size- 4
Incubation- 21-22
days
Diet: aquatic inver.
Some plant matter
White-Rumped
BAIRD’S SANDPIPER
Calidris bairdii
Length- 6 in
Black legs
Short, thin dark bill
Long wings
Pale brown head
with dark streaks
Pale brown breast
with white
underparts
Sexes similar
Clutch size- 4
Incubation- 20-22
days
Diet: aquatic inver.
Baird’s
PECTORAL SANDPIPER
Calidris melanotos
Length- 7.5 in
Medium, thin, dark
bill
Yellow legs
Brown head with
dark streaks
Brown breast w/ fine
streaks ending
abruptly
Sexes similar
Clutch size- 4
Incubation- 21-23
days
Diet: aquatic
invertebrates
Some plant matter
Pectoral
CURLEW SANDPIPER
Calidris ferruginea
Length- 7 in
Black legs
Curved bill
White rump
Reddish-brown
head, mantle, belly,
breast
Rare in the U.S.
Sexes similar
Clutch size-4
Incubation- ?
Diet: ?
Curlew
STILT SANDPIPER
Calidris himantopus
Length- 7.25 in
Greenish legs
Long bill curved at
the tip
Reddish-brown
crown and cheeks
Underparts barred
with black
Sexes similar
Clutch size- 4
Incubation- 19-21
days
Diet: aquatic inver.
Some plant matter
Stilt
BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER
Tryngites subruficollis
Length- 6.5 in
Yellow legs
Short, dark bill
Buff plumage
Black spots on side
of breast
White underwings
Sexes similar
Clutch size- 4
Incubation- ?
Diet: aquatic inver.
Buffbreasted
Threats
Pollution
Human development
Loss of habitat
Global warming
International Shorebird Survey Program
U.S. Shorebird Conservation Plan
Which Is Which???