Red sandpiper

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Red sandpiper
Sandpiper in splendor dress

Sandpiper in splendor dress

Systematics
Order : Plover-like (Charadriiformes)
Family : Snipe birds (Scolopacidae)
Genre : Actitis
Type : Red sandpiper
Scientific name
Actitis macularius
( Linnaeus , 1766)
Red sandpiper in a simple dress

The sandpiper ( Actitis macularius ) is a monotypical species from the family of snipe birds. It is the nearctic equivalent of the very similar river sandpiper . The stock situation of the bluebird was classified in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in 2016 as " Least Concern (LC) " = "not endangered".

Appearance

The red sandpiper reaches a body length of 18 to 20 centimeters. The wingspan is 37 to 40 centimeters. The weight varies between 25 and 60 grams.

In the splendid dress the head, the neck and the rear neck of the adult birds are greenish-brown. The white stripe above the eyes is very thin, underneath there is a darker stripe that runs from the base of the beak over the eyes to the ear patches. The throat, fore neck and underside of the body are white with noticeable large brown spots. The under tail-coverts are white. In the plain dress the beak is dark brown. The underside of the body then has no spots, only gray-brown spots are found on the chest sides. The top of the body is uniformly brown. The young birds resemble the adult birds in simple dress.

The beak is bright orange with a black tip.

Distribution area

The sandpiper breeds from Alaska to the south coast of the Hudson Bay and from there to the coast of Labrador . Its preferred habitat are the banks of rivers and lakes as well as the coastal zone. It is a mandatory migratory bird that migrates to the coast of the southwestern United States, Central America, the Caribbean, and South America during the winter months.

Way of life

Gelege, Museum Wiesbaden collection

The red sandpiper mainly eats land-dwelling invertebrates, which it picks up from the ground. When it chases prey, its hunting style is reminiscent of a little heron . He assumes a slightly huddled posture and then suddenly pecks at his prey. On the coast, the sandpiper mainly walks along the fringes of the sea, pecking for invertebrates and other food that are washed ashore by the waves. Hibernating birds also eat fish and crabs.

In the winter semester, the sandpiper occasionally form small groups. In contrast, they breed individually. They enter into monogamous or polyandric relationships that last only one breeding season. What is unusual about this species is that the females court the males. The nest is a shallow nesting trough covered with plant material. The male usually sets up several nesting hollows of this type, and the female then selects the hollow in which to lay the eggs. The clutch usually consists of three to five eggs. These are cream-colored and have reddish-brown spots. In monogamous relationships, both parent birds are involved in the brood, in polyandric relationships, on the other hand, only the male breeds. The breeding season is 21 to 22 days.

Etymology and history of research

The first description of the thrush rancher was in 1766 by Carl von Linné under the scientific name Tringa macularia . It was not until 1811 that Johann Karl Wilhelm Illiger added it to the new genus Actitis .

The word "Actitis" comes from the word "aktitēs, aktē ακτιτες, ακτε " for "coastal inhabitants, coast". The specific epithet "macularius" is of Latin origin and is derived from the word "macula" for "spots".

supporting documents

literature

  • Richard Sale: A Complete Guide to Arctic Wildlife. Christopher Helm, London 2006, ISBN 0-7136-7039-8 .
  • James A. Jobling: Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names . Christopher Helm, London 2010, ISBN 978-1-4081-2501-4 .
  • Carl von Linné: Systema Naturae per Regna Tria Naturae, Secundum Classes, Ordines, Genera, Species, Cum Characteribus, Differentiis, Synonymis, Locis . 13th edition. tape 1 . Typis Ioannis Thomae, Vindobona 1766 ( online [accessed November 19, 2013]).
  • Johann Karl Wilhelm Illiger: Caroli Illigeri D., Acad. Reg. Scient. Berolinens. et Bavaricae Sod., Museo Zoologico Berolin. praefecti, professoris extraord. Prodromus systematis mammalium et avium: additis terminis zoographicis utriusque classis eorumque versione Germanica. Sumptibus C. Salfeld, Berlin 1811 ( online [accessed November 19, 2013]).

Single receipts

  1. ↑ Sale, p. 216
  2. ^ Carl von Linné, p. 249.
  3. ^ Johann Karl Wilhelm Illiger, p. 262.
  4. ↑ James A. Jobling p. 31
  5. ↑ James A. Jobling p. 236

Web links

Commons : Actitis macularius  - collection of images, videos and audio files