Spoon-billed Sandpiper
Image: eeveefang (cc-by-nc)
NameSpoon-billed Sandpiper
Common NameSpoon-billed Sandpiper
Scientific NameCalidris pygmaea
FamilyScolopacidae
Wingspan (cm)31.5
Length (cm)15
Weight (g)33
Plumage DetailsIn non-breeding plumage, as seen in the image, the upperparts are pale grey-brown with fine streaking, and the underparts are white. The head is pale with a faint supercilium. Breeding plumage features rufous-brown upperparts with dark streaking and a rufous wash on the head and breast.
Vocalization / CallTypically a quiet, high-pitched 'peep' or 'whit' call, often given in flight or when disturbed.
Primary Dietinsectivore
Primary Habitatscoastal tundra, lagoons, mudflats, estuaries, sandy beaches
Conservation Statuscritically-endangered
Geographic RangeBreeds in the Russian Far East (Chukotka and Kamchatka Peninsula). Migrates along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway, wintering primarily in Southeast Asia (e.g., Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, China).
Identifying FeaturesSpatulate (spoon-shaped) bill, Small size, Short legs, Distinctive foraging behavior (sewing machine action)
Description
This small shorebird is easily recognized by its unique spatulate (spoon-shaped) bill. It forages in a distinctive 'sewing machine' action, probing shallow water and mud for invertebrates. The species is critically endangered, facing severe population decline.
