sanderling

Sanderling is a circumpolar Arctic breeder, breeding in the high Arctic, in Greenland, parts of Siberia, and on the northen islands of Canada. They winter on coasts of both hemispheres and are rare annual visitors to New Zealand.

Sanderling usually feed on sandy open beaches close to the tideline, dashing in and out of the waveline. They move their legs so fast they have been likened to clockwork toys.

sanderling
Taxonomy
Kingdom:
Animalia.
Phylum:
Chordata.
Class:
Aves.
Order:
Charadriiformes.
Family:
Scolopacidae.
Genera:
Calidris.
Species:
alba.
Sub Species:

Other common names:  — 

Crocethia alba, Erolia alba, Arena calidris, Arenaria leucophoea

Description:  — 

Native bird

20 cm., 50 g., non breeding plumage pale grey above and white below, looks like an oversized stint with broad white wing stripe, white edged back feathers, longer bill.

Where to find:  — 

Rare arctic migrant, may be found on sandy beaches and estuaries.

Youtube video  — 

Sanderling

Illustration description: — 

 

Gould, John, Birds of Great Britain, 1862-73.

Mathews, Gregory, The Birds of Australia 1910-28.

Reference(s): — 

 

Heather, B., & Robertson, H., Field Guide to the Birds of New Zealand, 2000.

Readers Digest Complete Book of NZ Birds, 1985.

Page date & version: — 

 

Wednesday, 4 June 2014; ver2009v1

 
 
 

©  2005    Narena Olliver,    new zealand birds limited,     Greytown, New Zealand.