Stilt Sandpiper

The Stilt Sandpiper, a small and elegant shorebird, is a member of the family Scolopacidae. Its scientific name, Calidris himantopus, is derived from Greek, with "Calidris" referring to a grey-colored waterside bird as described by Aristotle, and "himantopus" meaning "strap foot" or "thong foot," indicative of its notably long legs.

Identification Tips

Adult Stilt Sandpipers can be identified by their long necks, curved bills, and pale supercilium. They possess a white rump and, in flight, lack an obvious wing bar. Their legs are longer and paler compared to similar species, such as the Curlew Sandpiper. Breeding adults exhibit heavy barring beneath and reddish patches above and below the supercilium, with a brown back featuring darker feather centers. In winter, they don a gray plumage above and white below. Juveniles share the strong head pattern and brownish back of adults but are not barred below and show white fringes on the back feathers.

Habitat

The Stilt Sandpiper favors the open arctic tundra of North America for breeding. Outside the breeding season, it is typically found on inland waters rather than open coasts.

Distribution

This species is a long-distance migrant, wintering mainly in northern South America. It is occasionally seen as a rare vagrant in western Europe, Japan, and northern Australia.

Behaviour

Stilt Sandpipers are known for their foraging technique on muddy grounds, where they pick up food by sight and often jab like the dowitchers with which they frequently associate. The male performs a display flight during the breeding season.

Breeding

Stilt Sandpipers nest on the ground, where they lay three to four eggs. The male's display flight is part of their breeding behavior.

Similar Species

The Curlew Sandpiper is similar in appearance but can be distinguished by its shorter, less pale legs and the presence of a wing bar in flight.

Diet and Feeding

Their diet consists mainly of insects, other invertebrates such as molluscs, seeds, and the leaves and roots of aquatic plants. They forage by sight, often jabbing into the mud like dowitchers.

Conservation status

The Stilt Sandpiper is currently listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, indicating that it is not at immediate risk of widespread decline.