Purple Sandpiper

Calidris maritima

This beach-dwelling shorebird braves icy coasts and rocky shorelines, toughing out harsh winters where other birds dare not tread.

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Visual Identification

Appearance

The Purple Sandpiper is a stocky shorebird with distinctive dark grey plumage that takes on a purplish sheen in the breeding season. It has a slightly decurved bill that is orange at the base, dark at the tip, and short orange-yellow legs.

In winter, its plumage becomes duller. Juveniles resemble non-breeding adults but have buff-edged feathers on the upperparts, giving them a scaly appearance.

Males and females are alike in coloring, although females tend to be slightly larger, with longer bills. Despite their colorful name, a vibrant purple plumage is not a distinguishing feature of this chunky shorebird

Size

Length

20cm to 22cm

Wingspan

42cm to 46cm

Weight

50g to 110g

Colours

Males and females have similar plumage

Primary Colour

Grey

Secondary Colour

White Purple

Beak Colour

Orange Black

Leg Colour

Orange Yellow

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Purple Sandpiper is not typically found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Purple Sandpiper is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Purple Sandpiper is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Purple Sandpiper can be found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Purple Sandpiper is not typically found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Purple Sandpiper is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Purple Sandpiper is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Purple Sandpiper is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Purple Sandpiper can be found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Purple Sandpiper is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Purple Sandpiper is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Purple Sandpiper is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

Purple Sandpipers inhabit rocky coastal areas, particularly those with algae-covered rocks and strong wave action. They breed in the high Arctic tundra of North America and Eurasia.

During winter, they migrate to rocky coastlines in northern Europe and northeastern North America.

In the UK, they are regular winter visitors along the eastern and northern coasts, including Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Elevation Range

Sea level to 300 meters

Climate zones

Subarctic, Temperate

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Purple Sandpiper. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons