Least sandpiper
| Least sandpiper | |
|---|---|
| |
| Summer plumage | |
| |
| Winter plumage | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Charadriiformes |
| Family: | Scolopacidae |
| Genus: | Calidris |
| Species: | C. minutilla
|
| Binomial name | |
| Calidris minutilla (Vieillot, 1819)
| |
| |
| Synonyms | |
|
Erolia minutilla | |
The least sandpiper (Calidris minutilla) is the smallest shorebird. The genus name is from Ancient Greek kalidris or skalidris, a term used by Aristotle for some grey-colored waterside birds. The specific minutilla is Medieval Latin for "very small".[2]
Description
This species has greenish legs and a short, thin, dark bill. Breeding adults are brown with dark brown streaks on top and white underneath. They have a light line above the eye and a dark crown. In winter, Least sandpipers are grey above. The juveniles are brightly patterned above with rufous coloration and white mantle stripes.
This bird can be difficult to distinguish from other similar tiny shorebirds; these are known collectively as "peeps" or "stints". In particular, least sandpiper is very similar to its Asian counterpart, long-toed stint. It differs from that species in its more compact, shorter-necked appearance, shorter toes, somewhat duller colors, and stronger wingbar.
Measurements:[3]
- Length: 5.1-5.9 in (13-15 cm)
- Weight: 0.7-1.1 oz (19-30 g)
- Wingspan: 10.6-11.0 in (27-28 cm)
Breeding and migration
Their breeding habitat is the northern North American continent on tundra or in bogs. They nest on the ground near water. The female lays four eggs in a shallow scrape lined with grass and moss. Both parents incubate; the female leaves before the young birds fledge and sometimes before the eggs hatch. The young birds feed themselves and are able to fly within two weeks of birth.
They migrate in flocks to the southern United States, Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and northern South America. They occur as very rare vagrants in western Europe.[4]
Feeding
These birds forage on mudflats, picking up food by sight, sometimes by probing. They mainly eat small crustaceans, insects, and snails.
References
- ^ BirdLife International (2016). "Calidris minutilla". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22693396A93403074. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22693396A93403074.en. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
- ^ Jobling, James A (2010). The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names. London: Christopher Helm. pp. 84, 256. ISBN 978-1-4081-2501-4.
- ^ "Least Sandpiper Identification, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology". www.allaboutbirds.org. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
- ^ Harrison, Graham; Harrison, Janet (2005). The New Birds of the West Midlands. West Midland Bird Club. ISBN 0-9507881-2-0. Archived from the original on 23 January 2009.
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Further reading
Identification
- Jonsson, Lars & Peter J. Grant (1984) Identification of stints and peeps British Birds 77(7):293-315
External links
- An online identification article covering this species and other small calidrids at surfbirds.com
- Least sandpiper species account - Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Least sandpiper - Calidris minutilla - USGS Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter
- Least sandpiper photos at Oiseaux.net
- "Least sandpiper media". Internet Bird Collection.
- Least sandpiper photo gallery at VIREO (Drexel University)
- Interactive range map of Calidris minutilla at IUCN Red List maps
- IUCN Red List least concern species
- Erolia
- Sandpipers
- Birds of North America
- Birds of Central America
- Birds of the Caribbean
- Birds of the Dominican Republic
- Birds of South America
- Birds of Canada
- Birds of Mexico
- Birds of the United States
- Native birds of Alaska
- Least concern biota of North America
- Least concern biota of Mexico
- Least concern biota of the United States
- Least concern biota of South America
- Birds described in 1819
- Taxa named by Louis Pierre Vieillot