Spoon-billed Sandpiper
NameSpoon-billed Sandpiper
Common NameSpoon-billed Sandpiper
Scientific NameCalidris pygmaea
FamilyScolopacidae
Wingspan (cm)30.5
Length (cm)15
Weight (g)33
Plumage DetailsIn breeding plumage, as seen in the image, adults display a rich rufous coloration on the head, neck, and breast, often mottled with dark brown on the crown. The upperparts are dark brown with rufous and buff feather edgings, creating a scaly pattern. The belly and undertail coverts are white, with some dark spotting on the flanks. Non-breeding plumage is duller, predominantly grey-brown above and white below.
Vocalization / CallIts vocalizations are typically quiet and reedy, often described as a soft 'preep' or 'wheep', sometimes a trilling 'prrrip' during display flights.
Primary Dietinsectivore
Primary Habitatsarctic tundra, coastal mudflats, estuaries, saltmarshes
Conservation Statuscritically-endangered
Geographic RangeBreeds exclusively in the coastal tundra of northeastern Russia, primarily on the Chukotka Peninsula and Kamchatka. It undertakes a long migration to winter along the coasts of Southeast Asia, including Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, and southern China.
Identifying Featuresspatulate bill, small size, rufous head and breast (breeding plumage), rapid head-sweeping foraging behavior
Description
A small, distinctive shorebird easily recognized by its unique spatulate (spoon-shaped) bill. This critically endangered species forages by sweeping its bill from side to side through shallow water or mud, primarily seeking small invertebrates.
