In winter, a Spotted Sandpiper's breast is not spotted; it's plain white, while the back is grayish brown and the bill is pale yellow. Wings have white stripes visible in flight. The structure of this bird closely resembles that of Common Sandpiper, but note the much shorter projection of the tail beyond the wing-tips. The Acititis species have a distinctive stiff-winged flight low over the water. Further features include brighter yellow legs and a stronger face pattern (Mike Danzenbaker / www.agami.nl). Together with its sister species the common sandpiper (A. hypoleucos), it makes up the genus Actitis. In breeding season Spotted Sandpipers have bold dark spots on their bright white breast and an orange bill. Their flight is also characteristic'they fly low over the water with shallow, stiff wing-beats and bursts of flapping and gliding. In flight, the white wing-bar extends across the full width of the secondaries, reaching the body. Day 16 , Spotted Sandpiper. Spotted Sandpipers nest on the ground. The bill is dark with a pale area at the base and the legs a rather striking yellow. These are not gregarious birds, and are seldom seen in flocks. Actitis macularia flying. The Actitis species have a distinctive stiff-winged flight low over the water. They also have a distinctive walk in which their tails bob up and down. In flight there is a broad whitish trailing edge to the wing (similar to but more diffuse than that on a Common Redshank) combined with a grey rump and tail. As such it most closely resembles an over-sized Temminck's Stint. Tringa macularia Linnaeus, 1766 Andy Stoddart is Vice Chairman of the British Birds Rarities Committee and a member of the BOU Records Committee. The sexes are indistinguishable, but summer-plumaged adults develop distinctive dark 'braces' formed by blackish centres to the scapulars. The main predators of spotted sandpipers include raptors, mustelids, mice, and gulls. With its grey-and-white plumage, steep forehead, high, rounded crown, bright yellow legs, long, upturned, two-toned bill and dark 'shoulder', this young Terek Sandpiper looks effectively the same as summer- and winter-plumaged adults. However, closer examination reveals a neat and regular pattern of dark brown and pale cream subterminal barring with a characteristic 'dogtooth' pattern along the outer edges of the tertials. [3], Adults have short yellowish legs and an orange bill with a dark tip. The bill and legs are typically bright (Lisa de Leon). These birds forage on ground or water, picking up food by sight. As it walks on the shores of streams, ponds, and marshes, it bobs the rear half of its body up and down in an odd teetering motion. This bird resembles a Common Sandpiper, but the pattern of subterminal barring in the upperparts is most striking on the wing coverts which form a noticeably more barred patch. Common Sandpiper is a familiar bird in Britain, but an encounter with either Spotted or Terek Sandpiper here would make for a memorable day. It is rare to sight more than a single bird or, at most, a single family. The Spotted Sandpiper was an uncommon species during the Minnesota Breeding Bird Atlas (MNBBA). Its feeding action is quite striking too, with frequent short runs and much sweeping of the bill through the water in the manner of an Avocet. The dark 'shoulder' is also well shown here (Ralph Martin / www.agami.nl). In size, structure and habits this is a near-exact replica of Common Sandpiper, although its tail is distinctly shorter, projecting only slightly beyond the wing-tips. The genus name Actitis is from Ancient Greek aktites, "coast-dweller", derived from akte, "coast", and macularius is Latin from macula, "spot". Like its Palearctic cousin, it breeds along rivers and lakes and frequents more coastal habitat on passage and in winter. Spotted Sandpip… Spotted Sandpip… Previous; 4 of 4 ; Next; Spotted Sandpiper in flight. The basic plumage tones are the same as well, although summer adults acquire the highly distinctive thrush-like scatter of dark spots across the underparts from which the species gets its name. Common Sandpiper is the most familiar in Britain and Ireland, but the North American Spotted Sandpiper and Asia's Terek Sandpiper, though rare do both occur, especially during migration periods. Breeding birds have spots on the underparts. The call is a rapid fluty wit wit wit wit. Adult summer Spotted Sandpiper (Michigan, United States, 18 May 2015). The destruction of their natural habitats due to increasing wildfires causes problems for breeding and raising offspring. Their ranges rarely overlap. In flight there is a broad whitish trailing edge to the wing (similar to but more diffuse than that on a Common Redshank) combined with a grey rump and tail. He is also author of several books and numerous ID papers. The stance is invariably horizontal and rather 'crouched'. In flight, it appears very like Common Sandpiper but the wing-bar is shorter and narrower across the secondaries and does not reach the body. We use cookies to improve your experience of this website by remembering your usage preferences, collecting statistics, and targeting relevant content. [3] Male parents of first clutches may father chicks in later male's clutches, probably due to sperm storage within female reproductive tracts, which is common in birds. It also, at times, flies low over the tops of the marsh grass in this last named manner. The upperparts resemble those of Common Sandpiper, but the underparts are eye catching indeed: covered in blackish thrush-like spots. It has a highly distinctive structure, though, comprising a small head on a large, oval body, a short neck, medium-length bill, long tail projecting well beyond the wing-tips and relatively short legs. Click Submit to share your rare bird sightings via our simple form. They are well known for their habit of bobbing their rears up and down, and this can be a good way to identify them. Despite its name, however, this is a relatively scarce breeding species in Britain, confined to upland areas in the north and west. However, summer adults develop a complex pattern of dark internal markings in the upperparts feathers. These are not so well marked on juveniles or winter adults. [3] Their breeding habitat is near fresh water across most of Canada and the United States. Most sandpipers nest only in the far north, but the little "Spotty" is common in summer over much of North America. However, juveniles have stronger barring across the wing coverts and the fringes to the tertials are plainer, with just a dark subterminal mark and a pale tip. The legs are typically yellowish, hence brighter than those of Common Sandpiper. Winter Spotted Sandpiper (California, United States, 26 February 2015). Juvenile Common Sandpiper (Seaforth, Lancashire, 8 August 2006). Male spotted sandpipers take care of the offspring, both before and after the offspring hatch. Adults have short yellowish legs and an orange bill with a dark tip. Spotted sandpipers are the most widespread species of their kind in North America due to their high breeding rates and their ability to adapt to various environmental pressures. The body is brown on top and white underneath with black spots. Actitis macularia orth. In flight, Spotted Sandpipers have a … This patterning identifies the bird as a fresh juvenile (Steve Young). They migrate to the southern United States, the Caribbean, and South America, and are very rare vagrants to western Europe. The overall impression at range is of a brown-and-white bird with prominent breast-side patches and a white 'V' between these and the 'shoulder', but a close view like this reveals a surprisingly intricate and attractive pattern of dark marks in the upperparts feathers (Ralph Martin / www.agami.nl). As they forage, they can be recognized by their constant nodding and teetering. The overall health of spotted sandpipers may be suggested by the "spottiness" of an individual. Remarkably, a pair laid four eggs on Skye, Highland, in 1975, but sadly, the attempt was unsuccessful. They may also catch insects in flight. Additionally, the gradual increase in temperatures poses a problem for newborn sandpipers.
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