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Photo by Richard Day/Daybreak Imagery
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The pectoral sandpiper is one of our most common sandpipers, often seen in large flocks. They are one of the first species to return in spring, appearing around mid-March. In large areas of suitable habitat, pectoral sandpipers can be present in the hundreds or more. In late March of 1986, there were 2,300 sandpipers tallied in the western Lake Erie marshes.
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Pectoral Sandpiper
Calidris melanotos
At-a-Glance
• Incubation: 21-23days
• Clutch Size: 4 eggs
• Young Fledge: 21 days after hatching
• Typical Foods: aquatic invertebrates and plant matter
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Description
The pectoral sandpiper has a heavily streaked breast, which is sharply delineated from its white belly. A black patch on its rump extends onto its tail. The legs are yellow.
Habitat and Habits
This species is versatile in its habitat preferences. It can be found in flooded fields, mudflats, lake shores and even sod farms and other grassy expanses. The typical call is a soft, grating chiirrr; one of the more commonly heard sandpiper calls.
Reproduction and Care of the Young
Breeding takes place on tundra grounds in the Arctic coastland areas. The nest is a slight depression in the ground. |
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