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Pectoral Sandpiper
Calidris melanotos
The Pectoral Sandpiper, Calidris melanotos, is a small wader. It breeds in
the boggy tundra of northeast Asia and North America. It is a very long-distance
migrant. The American and most of the Asian birds winter in South America, but
some Asian breeders winter in southern and Australia and New Zealand.
This species occurs as a regular migrant to western Europe, and is not classed
as a rarity in Ireland or Great Britain although it is somewhat of a rarity in
this part of Essex. September 2003 saw a record influx to those two countries,
with 40 found in Ireland, and 150 in Great Britain. On migration and in winter,
the Pectoral Sandpiper is typically found in fresh water habitats.
This species nests on the ground, laying four eggs. The male has a display
involving puffing up his breast, which has a fat sac in the breeding season to
enhance his performance.
This bird is similar to its relative, the Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, which breeds
entirely within the Pectoral's Asian range. It is a largish calidrid, with a
grey-brown back, brownest in the summer male, and greyest in winter. It has a
grey breast, sharply demarcated at its lower edge, which gives this species its
English name. The legs are yellowish.
The juveniles are more brightly patterned above with rufous colouration and
white mantle stripes.
These birds forage on grasslands and mudflats, picking up food by sight,
sometimes by probing. They mainly eat insects and other invertebrates.
Juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper. Photo by Steve Arlow (SOG). |
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