Dunlin

Dunlin, breeding plumage; Florida, May

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Dunlin, non-breeding plumage; Florida; February

Dunlin, juvenile (molting into Basic I); Cape May, NJ; October

Dunlin, adult; winter plumage; Florida, March

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1. Description
2. Sound
3. Conservation Status
4. Other Names
5. Cool Facts
6. Full detailed species account

The Dunlin is a familiar shorebird around the world, where its bright reddish back and black belly, and long, drooping bill distinguish it from nearly all other shorebirds. It breeds across the top of both North American and Eurasia, and winters along coasts around the northern hemisphere.

Description

Medium-sized sandpiper. Moderately short neck. Moderately long, drooping bill. Moderately long, blackish legs. Slightly hunched appearance. In breeding plumage has black belly, rufous cap, and rufous back. Nonbreeding plumage is all dull brownish gray, with whitish belly.

• Size: 16-22 cm (6-9 in)
• Wingspan: 36-38 cm (14-15 in)
• Weight: 48-64 g (1.69-2.26 ounces)

Sex Differences

Sexes similar, female slightly larger.

Sound

Call a raspy "krree."

Conservation Status

Abundant, but populations may be declining.

Other Names

Becasseau variable (French)
Correlimos común (Spanish)
Red-backed Sandpiper (English)

Cool Facts

• Dunlin breeding in northern Alaska apparently move west, migrating down the eastern side of Siberia and Asia to Japan and China.

Sources used to construct this page:

Warnock, N. D., and R. E Gill. 1996. Dunlin (Calidris alpina). In The Birds of North America, No. 203 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, andThe American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C.