Sanderling Bird Facts (Calidris alba)

Visual Identification

Appearance

The Sanderling is a small, plump shorebird with a short, straight black bill and black legs. In breeding plumage, it displays a rusty head, neck, and back. During winter, it transforms into a pale grey above and white below, earning its nickname 'beach bird'.

Females are similar to males, although somewhat duller in their rufous breeding plumage. Both sexes have black legs and pure white underparts year-round.

Juveniles resemble non-breeding adults but have a scaly pattern on their backs. All plumages show a distinctive white wing stripe in flight, contrasting with darker flight feathers.

Size

Length

18cm to 20cm

Wingspan

35cm to 39cm

Weight

40g to 100g

Colours

Males and females have similar plumage

Primary Colour

White Grey

Secondary Colour

Black Rufous

Beak Colour

Black

Leg Colour

Black

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Sanderling is not typically found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Sanderling is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Sanderling can be found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Sanderling can be found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Sanderling is not typically found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Sanderling is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Sanderling is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Sanderling is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Sanderling is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Sanderling is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Sanderling is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Sanderling is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

Sanderlings breed in the high Arctic tundra of North America, Europe, and Asia. During migration and winter, they are found on sandy beaches and coastal mudflats across six continents, making them one of the most widespread shorebirds globally.

They are common migrants along the coasts of the UK, USA, Canada, and Australia. Some individuals overwinter in these regions, particularly in milder coastal areas.

Elevation Range

Sea level to 200 meters

Climate zones

Arctic, Temperate, Tropical

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Sanderling. 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

Resident

Breeding

Non-breeding

Passage

Vagrant

Distribution by Region

Species that can be found in the area throughout the year

Algeria Angola Anguilla Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Aruba Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Bermuda Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Brazil Brunei Burundi Cameroon Cape Verde Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad Chile China Christmas Island Colombia Comoros Congo Côte D'Ivoire Cuba Czech Republic Democratic Republic of the Congo Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic East Timor (Timor-Leste) Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Falkland Islands France French Guiana Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Greece Grenada Guatemala Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana Haiti Honduras Hong Kong Hungary India Indonesia Iran Israel Japan Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Latvia Liberia Libya Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Martinique Mauritania Mauritius Mexico Montserrat Morocco Mozambique Myanmar Namibia Nepal New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua Nigeria North Korea Oman Pakistan Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Poland Puerto Rico Qatar Réunion Romania Russia Rwanda Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Pierre and Miquelon Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Saudi Arabia Senegal Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa South Korea Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Sweden Switzerland Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand The Bahamas The United Kingdom Togo Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Uganda United Arab Emirates Uzbekistan Venezuela Vietnam Western Sahara Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe

Species that are present in the area during their breeding season

Canada Greenland Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands United States of America

Species that are present in the area outside their breeding season

Belgium Belize Benin British Virgin Islands Bulgaria Costa Rica Curaçao Cyprus Faroe Islands Guadeloupe Ireland Italy Jamaica Macedonia Micronesia Montenegro Netherlands Portugal Saint Martin Serbia Turkey Uruguay US Virgin Islands

Species that pass through the area during migration

Afghanistan Croatia Fiji Finland Iceland Iraq Norway Palestine South Sudan Syria Ukraine

Species that appear infrequently (rare) and unpredictably outside their normal range

Armenia Eswatini Gibraltar Jordan Laos Lebanon Liechtenstein Luxembourg Mongolia Niger Saint Barthelemy Sao Tome and Principe South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

Behaviour and Ecology

Bird Attributes

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Bird Attributes Explained

Our bird attributes system rates various aspects of a bird's capabilities on a scale of 0-100, based on data from field observations, scientific studies, and expert knowledge.

Attribute Categories:

Agility: Manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.
Strength: Physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.
Adaptability: Ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.
Aggressiveness: Territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.
Endurance: Stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.

Understanding the Ratings:

0-20: Very Low
21-40: Low
41-60: Average
61-80: High
81-100: Very High

Remember, these attributes are relative to other bird species and don't necessarily indicate superiority.

Hover over the icon next to each attribute for more information.

Tap the icon next to each attribute for more information.

Agility 95

Agility

Reflects the bird's manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.

Sanderlings display remarkable agility, running at speeds up to 20 km/h whilst chasing waves. Their swift, nimble movements along the shoreline and ability to quickly change direction demonstrate exceptional coordination and reflexes.

Strength 40

Strength

Indicates the bird's physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.

Whilst not particularly strong for their size, Sanderlings possess adequate strength to probe sand for prey and undertake long-distance migrations. Their small stature limits their overall strength rating.

Adaptability 90

Adaptability

Represents the bird's ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.

Sanderlings exhibit high adaptability, thriving in diverse habitats from Arctic tundra to tropical beaches. Their ability to drink seawater and adjust to varying climates across their global range showcases impressive adaptability.

Aggressiveness 25

Aggressiveness

Measures the bird's territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.

Generally non-aggressive, Sanderlings are often seen in flocks and rarely engage in confrontational behaviour. They may display some territorial behaviour during breeding, but overall maintain a peaceful demeanour.

Endurance 85

Endurance

Reflects the bird's stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.

Sanderlings demonstrate exceptional endurance, undertaking one of the longest migration routes of any bird, with some travelling over 10,000 km each way. Their ability to maintain energetic feeding behaviours and survive in harsh Arctic conditions further supports their high endurance rating.

Diet

Sanderlings primarily feed on small invertebrates found in the sand, such as crustaceans, molluscs, crabs, and marine worms. They use their bills to probe the wet sand, often following the receding waves to catch prey exposed by the water.

In their Arctic breeding grounds, they also consume insects, including flies, mosquitoes, and some plant material when food is scarce.

Behaviour

Sanderlings are known for their energetic feeding behaviour, running back and forth along the water's edge in sync with the waves. They often form small flocks, probing the sand with their bills for small invertebrates.

During migration, they gather in large groups, sometimes numbering in the thousands.

Vocalisation

Sanderlings are generally quiet birds, but they do vocalise during breeding and in flight. Their most common call is a short, sharp 'plik' or 'wick'.

During courtship, males produce a series of raspy trills that sound like 'krrrr-krrrr-krrrr'. In flight, they may give a soft, rolling 'chup-chup-chup'.

Nesting & Breeding

Sanderlings breed in the high Arctic in Alaska, Canada, Greenland, Svalbard, and Siberia during the brief summer, typically June and July. Males perform aerial displays to attract females, often chasing them in flight. They form monogamous pairs for the breeding season.

Nests are simple scrapes on the ground, typically lined with leaves and lichen. Females lay 3-4 olive-green eggs with brown spots. Both parents share incubation duties.

The incubation period lasts about 24-31 days. Chicks are precocial, leaving the nest shortly after hatching. They fledge in about 17-21 days, quickly preparing for their long migration south.

Conservation and Status

Global Conservation Status

Least Concern ^[1]

While currently listed as Least Concern, Sanderlings face threats from habitat loss due to coastal development and climate change.

Conservation efforts focus on protecting key stopover sites along their migration routes and preserving Arctic breeding grounds.

Population Data

Global Population Estimate

620,000 - 700,000 mature individuals ^[2]

Global Population Trend

Trend data may be uncertain or fluctuating

Additional Information

Quick Facts

Other names:

Ruddy Plover, Beach Bird

Family:

Scolopacidae

Average Lifespan

6 to 7 years

Max Lifespan

18.6 years ^[3]

Predators

Sanderlings face predation from various birds of prey, including Peregrine Falcons, Merlins, and Arctic Skuas. On breeding grounds, Arctic Foxes and Snowy Owls are significant threats.

Did You Know?

Sanderlings can run at speeds up to 20 km/h (12 mph) as they chase waves.
They have one of the longest migration routes of any bird, with some travelling over 10,000 km (6,100 miles) each way.
Sanderlings can drink seawater thanks to special salt glands that remove excess salt from their bloodstream.
These birds are unique among sandpipers in that they lack a backward-facing toe, having three forward-facing digits instead.