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Sanderling

Calidris alba Order CHARADRIIFORMES - Family SCOLOPACIDAE
Summary Detailed
For complete Life History Information on this species, visit Birds of North America Online.

Sanderling, adult, almost breeding plumage
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Sanderling, adult, almost breeding plumage
About the photographs
Sanderling enlarge
About the map
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Sanderling, adult, non-breeding plumage
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Sanderling, adult, non-breeding plumage

Sanderling, juvenile
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Sanderling, juvenile
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  1. Cool Facts
  2. Description
  3. Similar Species
  4. Sound
  5. Range
  6. Habitat
  7. Food
  8. Behavior
  9. Reproduction
  10. Conservation Status
  11. Other Names

The Sanderling is most commonly seen in flocks chasing receding waves on ocean beaches, and running away from them when they return. It breeds in the high Arctic and winters along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts from Canada to Argentina.

Cool Facts

  • The Sanderling is one of the most widespread wintering shorebirds in the world. It is found on nearly all temperate and tropical sandy beaches throughout the world. Among shorebirds, only the Ruddy Turnstone and the Whimbrel rival its worldwide distribution.

  • The mating system of the Sanderling appears to vary among areas, and possibly also among years. It is predominantly monogamous, but occasionally the female lays eggs for several different males in quick succession.

  • It is common for nonbreeding individuals of Arctic-breeding shorebirds to remain on the wintering grounds through the summer. Why make that long trip if you're not going to breed anyway? Many Sanderlings remain in South America without breeding, but only small numbers remain along the North American coasts.

Description

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  • Size: 18-20 cm (7-8 in)
  • Wingspan: 35 cm (14 in)
  • Weight: 40-100 g (1.41-3.53 ounces)

  • Small pale sandpiper.
  • Broad white wingstripe bordered in black, visible in flight.

  • Bill black, short, stout, and straight.
  • Legs black.
  • Lacks a hind toe.
  • Breeding (Alternate) Plumage: Head, breast, and upperparts reddish brown, mottled with dark and light. Belly white.
  • Nonbreeding (Basic) Plumage: Head and back pale gray. Face white. Underparts clean white. Dark shoulder patch.

Sex Differences

Sexes look similar, with male averaging brighter.

Immature

Juvenile similar to nonbreeding adult, but mottled black and white on back. Usually with buffy patch on sides of breast, streaked with fine black markings.

Similar Species

  • Similar to other small sandpipers, but paleness of nonbreeding plumage, white face, black bill and legs, bold wingstripe, and preference for sandy habitats distinguish it.
  • Rare Red-necked Stint similar to Sanderling in breeding plumage, but has unmarked reddish on face and chest, and dark markings on white lower chest.

    Sound

    Call a soft "wick wick." Twittering in flocks. On breeding grounds male gives frog-like calls in flight.

    »listen to songs of this species
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    Range

    Range Map
    Sanderling

    © 2003 Cornell Lab of Ornithology
    About the map

    Summer Range

    Breeds in extreme northern Canada and parts of Alaska. Also breeds in northern Greenland, Norway, and Russia. Nonbreeders occur south of breeding range.

    Winter Range

    Winters on all coasts from southern Alaska and Nova Scotia southward to southern Chile and Argentina. Found on almost all temperate and tropical marine beaches throughout the world.

    Habitat

    • Nests on islands and coastal tundra of high Arctic.
    • On migration and in winter prefers sandy beaches.

    Food

    Aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates.

    Behavior

    Foraging

    Pecks and probes in sand for food. Runs along tide line. Runs up beach ahead of incoming wave, then turns around and runs after receding wave to pick up stranded invertebrates and probe in wet sand.

    Reproduction

    Nest Type

    Shallow scrape in tundra. Lined sparsely with leaves and lichens.

    Egg Description

    Dull greenish with small irregular brown spots around large end. Pointed on one end.

    Clutch Size

    Usually 4 eggs. Range: 3-4.

    Condition at Hatching

    Downy young leave nest day after hatching.

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    Conservation Status

    Global population trend unknown, American populations may be declining.

    Other Names

    Bécasseau sanderling (French)
    Playero blanco (Spanish)

    Sources used to construct this page:

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    MacWhirter, B., P. Austin-Smith, Jr., and D. Kroodsma. 2002. Sanderling (Calidris alba). In The Birds of North America, No. 653 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.

     
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