White-rumped Sandpiper (Calidris fuscicollis) Explored 4th November 2011
Although at first glance it may appear confusingly similar to a Dunlin, or even a Little Stint, this is actually a relatively easy bird to identify thanks to its exceptionally long wings. They are so long they protrude clearly beyond the tip of the tail and give the whole bird a characteristically attenuated look. Having established that it has such long wings, the only other bird you can confuse it with is the Baird’s Sandpiper, another rare vagrant. A White-rumped Sandpiper though has a more variegated back pattern with pointed, not rounded feather patterns, less contrast between the patterned breast and plain belly and, if you can see it, a completely white rump rather like a Curlew Sandpiper. Other useful features include a pale base to the lower mandible, a clear supercilium and obvious streaks along the flanks.
Their breeding habitat is the northern tundra on Arctic islands in
Canada and Alaska. They nest on the ground, usually well-concealed in
vegetation.
They are a long distance migrant, wintering in northern South America.
They are rare but regular vagrants to western Europe. These birds
forage by probing on mudflats or tundra or picking up food by sight in
shallow water. They mainly eat insects, mollusks and marine worms,
also some plant material.
Taken this afternoon at Ballycotton, Co. Cork
Comments and faves
mak3154 (7 months ago | reply)
another cracking shot
Sean Cronin (7 months ago | reply)
Brilliant Ronan. Razor sharp.
mpgoodey (No flashing AWARDS PLEASE!) (7 months ago | reply)
yes a cracker, looks like you were flat on your belly for this one :-)
Dr. Ilia (7 months ago | reply)
very nice capture!
This is an extraordinary photo!!!
I saw this in
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Gary Faulkner's wildlife (7 months ago | reply)
Stunning shot Ronan
ranju10 added this photo to his favorites. (7 months ago)
ranju10 (7 months ago | reply)
Great shot!!!
Monosnaps (7 months ago | reply)
Nice work Ronan, I heard the piece on radio yesterday about the calendar, well done, look forward to getting a copy.
Paul Godden (7 months ago | reply)
Awesome nature shot
Snowbabies added this photo to her favorites. (7 months ago)
jonnobird (7 months ago | reply)
Great shot of a great bird Ronan
markgsmith added this photo to his favorites. (7 months ago)
markgsmith (7 months ago | reply)
Stunning shot
Svenni and his Icelandic birds. (7 months ago | reply)
Excellent !!
alfie_adkins and A.Birdseye. added this photo to their favorites.
A.Birdseye. (7 months ago | reply)
Fantastic capture.
ArUK5 added this photo to his favorites. (6 months ago)