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8

Sanderling

(Calidris alba)
German name(s): "Sanderling"
Size: 16-22 cm; wing span 40-45 cm
Weight: 40-100 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 Sanderling 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

BREEDING

Near-lateral/lateral view of two Sanderling in post-breeding moult, i.e. moulting out of breeding plumage
(photo courtesy of G. Normand)
[Near Vannes, Bretagne, France, August 2020]

NON-BREEDING

Full-frontal view of a Sanderling in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Fonta da Telha beach, Almada, Setubal, Portugal, February 2018]

Frontal view of a Sanderling in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Salinas da Fuseta, Olhao, Algarve, Portugal, November 2021]

Near-frontal view of a Sanderling in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Docapesca beach, Lisbon, Portugal, January 2019]

Near-lateral view of a Sanderling in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo Estuary Nature Reserve, Portugal, February/March 2018]

Lateral view of a Sanderling in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Salinas da Fuseta, Olhao, Algarve, Portugal, November 2021]

Lateral view of a Sanderling in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Marismas de Isla Cristina, Huelva, Andalucia, Spain, September 2020]

Close-up lateral view of a Sanderling in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Lagoa de Albufeira, near Sesimbra, Setubal, Portugal, February 2018]

Close-up lateral view of a Sanderling in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of G. Pinelas)
[Lagoa de Albufeira, near Sesimbra, Setubal, Portugal, October 2017]

Lateral view of two Sanderlings in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of G. Pinelas)
[Lagoa de Albufeira, near Sesimbra, Setubal, Portugal, October 2017]

Lateral view of two Sanderlings in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Pico Island, Azores, November 2018]

Near-dorsal view of a Sanderling in non-breeding plumage; on the right, for comparison, a Common Ringed Plover, also in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo Estuary Nature Reserve, Portugal, March 2018]

Dorsal view of a Sanderling in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Fonta da Telha beach, Almada, Setubal, Portugal, February 2018]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Lateral view of an immature Sanderling in the wash of a receding wave; note the crisp spangled pattern on the back and the brownish hues on the shoulder bar and around the eye (photo courtesy of M. Thomas)
[Römö Island, Denmark, in September 2017]

Food, Diet

Sanderling in non-breeding plumage scavenging from a fish carcass (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Fonta da Telha beach, Almada, Setubal, Portugal, February 2018]

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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