| Spotted Sandpiper | |
|---|---|
 Breeding plumage | |
 Non-breeding plumage | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Charadriiformes |
| Family: | Scolopacidae |
| Genus: | Actitis |
| Species: | Actitis macularius |
The Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius) are the most widespread sandpiper in North America, and when mingling with similar species such as the Solitary Sandpiper, they become an identification nightmare. But with much practice, distinguishing this shorebird will be a slightly easier task.
Appearance[]
Spotted Sandpipers are medium-sized shorebirds 7.1-7.9 in (18-20 cm) long, females being slightly larger, weight 1.2-1.8 oz (34-50 g), and have a wingspan of 14.6-15.8 in (37-40 cm). Their bill is slightly shorter than their head, yellow (paler in non-breeding plumage), and relatively straight. Their white breast is round and spotted with bold, dark spots, in breeding plumage, while in winter, they lose these spots. Their back is dark brown in summer, while in winter, it changes to a grayish brown. A darker brown eye stripe runs across their dark eye below a white supercilium. Their tail is considered long for sandpipers, and their legs are yellow.
Occurrence[]
The most widespread sandpiper in North America, the Spotted Sandpiper can be found in a wide variety of habitats and elevations; from rivers and streams in otherwise arid parts of the continent, to the sea coast; from elevations from sea level to 14,000 feet above. The birds nest and breed near freshwater in open and wooded country with shoreline for foraging and herbaceous cover for their nests. They will utilize any habitat near water during migration, including mudflats, beaches, breakwaters, sewage ponds, and even in irrigation ditches. Wintering grounds for these birds are the coasts of North America or the beaches, mangroves, rainforest, and cloud forest with an elevation of up to 6,000 feet above sea level in Central and South America.
Life History[]
Diet[]
Spotted Sandpiper devouring a worm.
Spotted Sandpipers feed on a wide range of invertebrates, such as crustaceans, insects and their aquatic larvae, worms,and small mollusks. Sandpipers will also eat small fish and even dead fish. In addition to probing in sand or mud with their bills, they also lunge at moving prey, glean insects off foliage, or snap at airborne prey.
Mating and Nesting[]
Females are polyandrous and dominant in the species. They arrive on breeding grounds before males, covering much distance on the shoreline and setting up territory in the search for suitable mates. Males that mate with the female set up smaller territories within her territory to defend against other males. The female performs an elaborate swooping flight with the wings held open while she sings her weet-weet song, as well as a strutting display on the ground for interested males. A pair may also begin building several nests during courtship but rarely finishes one. The nesting location of the actual nest is chosen by either the male or female. Typically, it is located within 100 yards of the shore and within the shade of a broad-leafed plant. When predation is heavy, nests are more likely to be located under heavy shrubbery such as raspberries or nettles. They will often nest near or in Common Tern colonies when this species is present. The nest is a 2-3 inch deep depression scraped out in soil and lined with dead grasses and woody material. Oftentimes, the female begins building but the male finishes it.
In some parts of their range, Spotted Sandpiper females may mate with up to five males during one season. Each time she does, she lays a clutch of 3-5 eggs and leaves the male to incubate and raise the young as she searches for another mate. The eggs are buff, blotched with brown and are 1.1-1.4 inches (2.9-3.5 cm) in length and 0.9-1.0 inches (2.2-2.6 cm) in width. Males incubate the eggs alone, while a female may raise her last brood of the season. This stage spans 19-22 days. Young are precocial; hatched with down, fully functional eyes, and are able to leave the nest shortly after breaking out of their eggshell. The young feed themselves and are usually tended by the male only for at least four weeks, while in monogamous populations, females will help too. Fledglings can fly weakly after 15 days, and by day 18 are capable of sustained flight.