Pectoral Sandpiper

The Pectoral Sandpiper, Calidris melanotos, is a small, migratory wader with a distinctive appearance. In its breeding plumage, the adult boasts a grey-brown back, with the hue ranging from brownest in summer males to grayest in winter. A sharp demarcation line on its grey breast gives this bird its common name, and is particularly noticeable when the bird faces an observer. The species measures approximately 21 cm in length, with a wingspan of 46 cm. Its legs are a yellowish color, and it has an olive bill with a darker tip. Juveniles display a more vivid pattern with rufous tones and white mantle stripes.

Identification Tips

To identify the Pectoral Sandpiper, look for the clear dividing line on its breast, a weaker supercilium, and a grayer crown compared to similar species. The bird's yellowish legs and olive bill with a darker tip are also key identification features.

Habitat

The Pectoral Sandpiper is found in freshwater habitats during migration and winter. It prefers grasslands and mudflats where it can forage for food.

Distribution

This species is a long-distance migrant, with breeding grounds in the boggy tundra of northeast Asia and North America, ranging from Alaska to central Canada. In the winter, it migrates to South America, southern Australia, and New Zealand. It is also a regular migrant to western Europe, including Ireland and Great Britain.

Behaviour

The Pectoral Sandpiper is known for its remarkable migration patterns, which may be shifting due to global warming. It forages by sight on grasslands and mudflats, sometimes probing for food. The male performs a courtship display by puffing up his breast, which contains a fat sac during the breeding season to enhance his performance.

Breeding

The species constructs a steep-sided scrape nest lined with a substantial amount of material. The nest is deep enough to protect the eggs from heat loss due to cool breezes in its breeding latitudes. The female typically lays a clutch of four eggs.

Similar Species

The Pectoral Sandpiper can be confused with the sympatric Sharp-tailed Sandpiper (Calidris acuminata), but can be distinguished by its breast pattern, weaker supercilium, and grayer crown.

Diet and Feeding

The diet of the Pectoral Sandpiper consists mainly of arthropods, including flies, their larvae, spiders, crustaceans, and other invertebrates, as well as seeds.

Conservation status

Despite being listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, the Pectoral Sandpiper has experienced a significant decline in numbers, with a 50% decrease since 1974.