Buff-breasted Sandpiper

Tryngites subruficollis

Order CHARADRIIFORMES - Family SCOLOPACIDAE - Subfamily Scolopacinae

Menu

1. Cool Facts
2. Description
3. Similar Species
4. Sound
5. Range
6. Habitat
7. Reproduction
8. Conservation Status
9. Other Names

A delicate dove-headed shorebird, the Buff-breasted Sandpiper is found primarily in migration in areas of short grass. It migrates primarily through the middle of the continent from its arctic breeding grounds to southern South America.

Cool Facts

• The Buff-breasted Sandpiper is unique among North American shorebirds in having a lek mating system. Males defend relatively small territories that provide no resources for females and are simply display sites to which females can be attracted. Females select a mate and then leave to nest and raise their chicks elsewhere.

Description

• Size: 18-20 cm (7-8 in)
• Weight: 46-78 g (1.62-2.75 ounces)

Medium-sized shorebird. Buffy all over. Short, pointed, black bill. Rounded head. Long yellow legs. Underside of wings white. Small black spots on crown and back.

Sex Differences

Sexes look alike, male larger.

Immature

Juvenile similar to adult, but has more scaly back.

Similar Species

• Baird's Sandpiper is buffy only across the breast, has white throat and belly, and dark legs.
• Rare juvenile Ruff similar, but larger, has white wingbar, and white sides to rump.
• Upland Sandpiper is larger, has whitish belly, and barring on sides.
• American Golden-Plover has shorter, thicker bill, and darker legs.

Sound

Call a series of soft tick notes, and a rolling "preeet."

Range

Summer Range

Breeds in northern Alaska and Canada.

Winter Range

Winters in southern South America.

Habitat

Breeds in dry, grassy tundra. On migration and in winter found in dry grasslands (usually short grass), pastures, plowed fields and, rarely, mudflats.

Reproduction

Clutch Size

Usually 4 eggs. Range: 2-5.

Condition at Hatching

Active and covered with down.

Conservation Status

Population declined from millions to near extinction by 1920s. Numbers appeared to increase, but may be declining again.

Other Names

Bécasseau roussâtre (French)
Correlimos canelo, Chorlito canela (Spanish)

Sources used to construct this page:

Lanctot, R. B. and C. D. Laredo. 1994. Buff-breasted Sandpiper (Tryngites subruficollis). In The Birds of North America, No. 91 (A. Poole and F. Gill, Eds.). Philadelphia: The Academy of Natural Sciences; Washington, D.C.: The American Ornithologists? Union.