Solitary Sandpiper

The Solitary Sandpiper, Tringa solitaria, is a modestly sized member of the shorebird family. It presents a somewhat plump appearance, with a length ranging from 18 to 23 centimeters and a wingspan reaching up to 50 centimeters. The bird's weight varies between 31 to 65 grams. Its plumage is characterized by a dark green back, a greyish head and breast, and predominantly white underparts. When observed in flight, the dark coloration of the wings is evident both above and below, complemented by a dark rump and tail center.

Identification Tips

Distinguishing the Solitary Sandpiper from its close relative, the Green Sandpiper (T. ochropus), can be achieved by noting the dark rump and tail center, as the Green Sandpiper boasts a strikingly white rump. Both species share brown wings adorned with light spots and a distinctive neck and chest pattern.

Habitat

The Solitary Sandpiper favors woodlands for breeding, particularly across Alaska and Canada.

Distribution

This migratory bird spends its winters in Central and South America, with a preference for the Amazon River basin, as well as the Caribbean. It is an occasional rare visitor to western Europe during the summer-autumn period.

Behaviour

True to its name, the Solitary Sandpiper is typically seen alone during its migratory travels. It may, however, form small groups in areas with abundant food. It has an affinity for freshwater environments and can often be found in more confined spaces such as ditches, which are less suitable for other waders.

Song & Calls

In flight, the Solitary Sandpiper can be identified by its characteristic three-note whistle.

Breeding

The species exhibits a unique nesting behavior among scolopacids by laying a clutch of 3-5 eggs in the abandoned tree nests of songbirds, such as thrushes. The hatchlings are prompted to leave the nest and drop to the ground shortly after birth.

Diet and Feeding

The diet of the Solitary Sandpiper consists of small invertebrates, including insects like mosquito larvae, young midges, grasshoppers, caterpillars, and beetles. It also consumes small crustaceans, molluscs like snails, and occasionally small frogs, primarily in their tadpole stage. These are typically foraged from the mud around the edges of ponds.

Conservation status

The Solitary Sandpiper is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, indicating that it does not face any immediate threat of extinction.