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8

Pectoral Sandpiper

(Calidris melanotos)
Alternate name(s): "Pouter Shorebird"
Size: 18-24 cm; wing span 42-49 cm
Weight: 50-115 g

Similar
species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description

Click here for a physical description

Taxonomy, classification

See Pectoral Sandpiper at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species

Click here for information on habitat and range

Sightings

Click here for sighting information

Photos

ADULT

Sex unknown

NON-BREEDING

Frontal view of a Pectoral Sandpiper in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Gold Scrub Lane, Lake Samsonvale, QLD, December 2019]

Near-lateral view of a Pectoral Sandpiper in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Gold Scrub Lane, Lake Samsonvale, QLD, December 2019]

Near-lateral view of a Pectoral Sandpiper in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Moseley Swamp, Lord Howe Island, November 2014]

Near-lateral view of a Pectoral Sandpiper in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Norfolk Island, December 2008]

Lateral view of a Pectoral Sandpiper in non-breeding plumage
[Ca. 30 km S of Mungindi, NSW, February 2023]

Lateral view of a Pectoral Sandpiper in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Gold Scrub Lane, Lake Samsonvale, QLD, December 2019]

Near-dorsal view of a Pectoral Sandpiper in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Gold Scrub Lane, Lake Samsonvale, QLD, December 2019]

Cox's Sandpiper - Calidris melanotos x ferruginea

Pectoral Sandpipers and Curlew Sandpipers can hybridize. The hybrids are called "Cox's Sandpiper".

M. Eaton reports finding a Cox's Sandpiper at the Kianawah Road Wetland, Wynnum, QLD, in March 2019.

Identification of Cox's Sandpiper is made based on the bill, the streaked front and the white undertail coverts. The bill is very similar to a Curlew Sandpiper's but usually shorter, possibly also less curved. The front down to the chest is streaked like a Pectoral Sandpiper, with a sharp cut-off at the chest. The all-white undertail coverts distinguish Cox's Sandpiper from the Sharp-tailed Sandpiper.

NON-BREEDING

Near-lateral view of a Cox's Sandpiper in transitional plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Kianawah Road Wetland, Wynnum, QLD, March 2019]

Lateral view of a Cox's Sandpiper in transitional plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Kianawah Road Wetland, Wynnum, QLD, March 2019]

Lateral view of a Cox's Sandpiper in transitional plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Kianawah Road Wetland, Wynnum, QLD, March 2019]

Frontal view of a Cox's Sandpiper in non-breeding plumage, right, with a non-breeding Sharp-tailed Sandpiper
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Kianawah Road Wetland, Wynnum, QLD, March 2019]

Near-frontal view of Cox's Sandpiper in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Kianawah Road Wetland, Wynnum, QLD, March 2019]

Near-lateral view of Cox's Sandpiper in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Kianawah Road Wetland, Wynnum, QLD, March 2019]

Lateral view of a Cox's Sandpiper in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Kianawah Road Wetland, Wynnum, QLD, March 2019]

Lateral view of a Cox's Sandpiper in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Kianawah Road Wetland, Wynnum, QLD, March 2019]

Near-dorsal view of a Cox's Sandpiper in non-breeding plumage, right, with a non-breeding Sharp-tailed Sandpiper
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Kianawah Road Wetland, Wynnum, QLD, March 2019]

Near-dorsal view of a Cox's Sandpiper in non-breeding plumage, right, with a non-breeding Sharp-tailed Sandpiper
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Kianawah Road Wetland, Wynnum, QLD, March 2019]

Dorsal/ventral view of Cox's Sandpiper in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Kianawah Road Wetland, Wynnum, QLD, March 2019]

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

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