dunlin (Calidris alpina)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONFIRMATION STATUS: Confirmed.

 

IDENTIFICATION

• Length: 7 inches

• Medium-sized shorebird

• Medium-sized, thin, dark bill with droop at tip

• Black legs

• Black patch on rump extending onto tail

• White wing stripe

• Sexes similar

Adult alternate:

• White head and breast with faint black streaks and spots

• Black belly

• Rusty mantle with black spots

• White undertail coverts and flanks

Adult basic:

• Gray head with pale indistinct supercilium

• Gray breast with indistinct streaking

• Gray upperparts

• White belly and undertail coverts

Juvenile:

• Similar to adult basic

• Upperparts rustier than basic adult

• Head and breast with brownish wash

Similar species:

In alternate plumage, the black belly is also found in the rock sandpiper.
The rock sandpiper has less extensive black on the belly and yellow legs.
In basic and juvenile plumages, the dunlin is similar to several other spe-

cies. It is a darker gray than western sandpiper and Sanderling. The dunlin
lacks the white rump of white-rumped and curlew sandpiper. Purple
sandpiper is darker gray above and has yellow legs. In flight, the dunlin
has a more substantial wing stripe than peep.

 

LIFE HISTORY

Migration Status:N/A
Breeding Habitat:N/A
Nest Location:N/A
Nest Type:N/A
Clutch Size:4
Length of Incubation: 21-22 days
Days to Fledge:19-21
Number of Broods:1, occasionally 2
Diet: Primarily aquatic Invertebrates

 

SKY MEADOWS DISTRIBUTION/SEASONAL OCCURRENCE

 

Relative abundance and seasonal occurrence are indicated in red below.

 

Relative abundance
     C - Common: Likely to be present in good numbers in appropriate habitat and season.
     U - Uncommon: May be present in appropriate habitat and season, often in low
            numbers.
     O - Occassional: Found in appropriate habitat perhaps only a few times per season,
            sometimes low numbers.
     R - Rare: May not be recorded every year.
     Acc - Accidental: Recorded once or twice, may not be expected again for a long time.

 

Seasonal Occurrence
      Sp - Spring: March, April, May
      Su - Summer: June, July, August
      Fall: September, October, November Acc

      Winter: December, January, February

 

 

Back to Inventory of Bird Families and Species