summer

summer winter European distribution summer

Identification

In winter plumage their almost white, silvery plumage distinguishes them from both the longer-billed Dunlins and the smaller Little Stints. The contrasting black spot around the shoulder of the wing is another really useful feature. You have to become familiar with the size and shape of a Sanderling to confidently identify the juveniles with their spangled silver and black upperparts and the summer plumaged birds with their reddish upperparts heavily marked with black. In flight the pale wing bar is broader and more contrasting than in similar birds such as Dunlin or the stints.

Habitat

Winters on sandy beaches and estuaries.

Behaviour

They often feed by the water's edge and therefore have to scamper back and forth as each wave rushes up the beach and then retreats.

Migration

Birds pass through Britain in the autumn, with some birds continuing to continental Atlantic coasts and even as far south as the Atlantic coast of southern Africa. Those which winter in Europe are probably from Greenland. Such birds return to the breeding areas around the end of May. The adults leave in early August, followed during the rest of the month by the juveniles.

This information is taken from the BirdFile on the appropriate BirdGuides DVD-ROM. As well as video and sounds, our CD- and DVD-ROMs contain additional text on Voice, Sexing, Ageing, Food, Nests and Eggs and more.

For the purposes of our bird news services, Sanderling is classed as Common: common species, including species that are certain or probable escapees from captivity when occurring in the British Isles. (Note that rarity levels are currently applied nationally and may not reflect local variations in abundance.)

Lytham St Annes, Lancs 22/08/2010	Lytham St Annes, Lancs 22/08/2010	Anthorn, Cumbria 30/08/2010	Draycote Wtr, Warks 30/08/2010	Sanbanse, Chiba Prefecture, Honshu, Japan 28/08/2010
Sanbanse, Chiba Prefecture, Honshu, Japan 28/08/2010	Tyninghame Bay, Lothian 28/08/2010	Tyninghame Bay, Lothian 28/08/2010	Tyninghame Bay, Lothian 28/08/2010	Tyninghame Bay, Lothian 28/08/2010

 View all pictures of Sanderling

Sanderling breeds in the following countries (Bird News Extra subscribers will see population statistics and information on trends for each country):

Greenland
Svalbard

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