Stilt Sandpiper

Calidris himantopus

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

In its boldly barred breeding plumage, the Stilt Sandpiper is easily identified. In its gray nonbreeding plumage, it is much less distinctive and appears to be intermediate between a yellowlegs and a dowitcher.

Cool Facts

• The main southward migration route route of the Stilt Sandpiper passes through the middle of the continent, west of the Mississippi River. From here, in fall the species migrates over water to the Caribbean or northern South America, where many birds interrupt their migration to molt flight feathers before continuing to winter haunts in inland central South America.

Description

• Size: 20-23 cm (8-9 in)
• Weight: 50-70 g (1.77-2.47 ounces)

Medium-sized sandpiper. Long, greenish legs. Long neck. Long bill, drooped at the tip. White rump. Gray tail. Wings plain, without white stripe. Breeding plumage heavily barred on the underside, with dark blotches on the back, and chestnut cheek patch. Nonbreeding plumage all gray on back with lighter belly.

Sex Differences

Sexes look alike.

Immature

Juvenile similar to nonbreeding adult, but browner, with scaly back with light edges to feathers, and thin streaks on chest.

Similar Species

• Nonbreeding Wilson's Phalarope has entirely white underside, thinner, straight bill, and more active behavior.
• Lesser Yellowlegs has mostly white tail, bright yellow legs.
• Dowitchers have shorter legs, longer, straight bills, and a white triangle extending up the back.
• Curlew Sandpiper has white wing stripe, more slender and more curved bill, and a darker tail.

Sound

Call a soft "jeew."

»listen to songs of this species

Range

Summer Range

Breeds in northern Alaska and Canada.

Winter Range

Winters primarily in interior of South America, but some found from very southern United States southward to Central America and northern South America.

Habitat

Breeds in sedge tundra near water, often near wooded borders of the taiga. On migration and in winter found along mudflats, flooded fields, shallow ponds and pools, and marshes.

Reproduction

Clutch Size

Usually 4 eggs. Range: 2-5.

Condition at Hatching

Active and covered with down.

Conservation Status

Numbers may be declining. Degradation of breeding environment may be caused by over population of Snow Geese on the tundra.

Other Names

Becasseau à èchasses (French)
Playero pato largo (Spanish)

Sources used to construct this page:

Klima, J., and J. R. Jehl, Jr. 1998. Stilt Sandpiper (Calidris himantopus). In The Birds of North America, No. 341 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.