pectoral sandpiper (Calidris melanotos)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONFIRMATION STATUS: Confirmed.

 

IDENTIFICATION:

• Length: 7.5 inches

• Medium-sized shorebird

• Medium-sized, thin, dark bill

• Yellow legs

• Black patch on rump extending onto tail

• Thin, white wing stripe

• Sexes similar

Adult alternate:

• Brown head with dark streaks

• Pale supercilium

• Black back feathers and wing coverts with brown edges

• Brown breast with fine streaks ending abruptly and contrasting with          white underparts

Adult basic:

• Similar to adult alternate

• Upperparts a duller brown

Juvenile:

• Similar to adult alternate

• Back feathers and wing coverts with pale brown, rust, or golden edges

• White 'V's on back

• Dark rusty crown

Similar species:

With its abrupt demarcation between the brown breast and the white
underparts and yellow legs, the pectoral sandpiper is quite distinctive.
It is larger than the peeps but shorter-billed and shorter-legged than
dowitchers, yellowlegs, and stilt sandpipers. The rare sharp-tailed
sandpiper is quite similar, but has more markings on the flanks.
Juveniles have a redder crown and a more obvious supercilium.

 

LIFE HISTORY

Migration Status: N/A
Breeding Habitat: N/A
Nest Location: N/A
Nest Type: N/A
Clutch Size: 4
Length of Incubation: 21-23 days
Days to Fledge: 21
Number of Broods: 1
Diet: Primarily aquatic invertebrates; lesser quantities of plant
   matter

 

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 Acc
      Su - Summer: June, July, August
      Fall: September, October, November Acc

      Winter: December, January, February

 

 

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