Like its congener, the long-billed dowitcher, the short-billed dowitcher (Limnodromus griseus) is a medium-sized, stocky, long-billed shorebird in the family Scolopacidae. Limnodromus is derived from the Ancient Greek words limne, “marsh,” and dromos, “racer.” The specific epithet griseus means “grey” in Medieval Latin. The English word is derived from the Iroquois language and was first […]
Calidris Mauri – Western Sandpiper
Calidris mauri, or western sandpiper, is a tiny shorebird. The genus name derives from the Ancient Greek kalidris or skalidris, Aristotle’s word for several gray-colored waterside birds. The specific mauri is named after Ernesto Mauri (1791–1836), an Italian botanist. With a population in the millions, this is one of the most abundant shorebird species in […]
Calidris Pusilla – Semipalmated Sandpiper
Calidris pusilla, the semipalmated sandpiper, is a very small shorebird. The genus name derives from the Ancient Greek kalidris or skalidris, Aristotle’s word for several grey-colored waterside birds. The term pusilla is Latin for “very tiny.” It is occasionally grouped alongside other “stints” in Erolia, although despite the fact that these appear to constitute a […]
Calidris Melanotos – Pectoral Sandpiper
Calidris melanotos, the pectoral sandpiper, is a small migratory wader that breeds in North America and Asia and winters in South America and Oceania. It feeds on invertebrates of various sizes. Its nest, a scraped-in hole with a thick liner, is deep enough to protect its four eggs from the breeding grounds’ cold breezes. Quick […]
Calidris Subruficollis – Buff-Breasted Sandpiper
Calidris subruficollis is a tiny shorebird. Subruficollis is derived from the Latin words subrufus, “reddish” (from sub, “slightly,” and rufus, “rufous”), and collis, “-necked/-throated” (from collum, “neck”). It is a sandpiper of the calidrid family. Quick Overview: Calidris Subruficollis – Buff-Breasted SandpiperBody size: Around 7.5-8.5 in (19-22 cm) and a weight of 117 g (4.12 […]
Calidris Fuscicollis – White-Rumped Sandpiper
The white-rumped sandpiper (Calidris fuscicollis) is a tiny shorebird found in Canada and Alaska’s northern tundra. This bird can be difficult to tell apart from other similar little shorebirds commonly referred to as “peeps” or “stints.” These birds are rarely seen. They are rarely observed throughout the summer due to their remote breeding habitat. Quick […]
Calidris Minutilla – Least Sandpiper
The smallest shorebird is the least sandpiper (Calidris minutilla). The genus name derives from the Ancient Greek kalidris or skalidris, Aristotle’s word for several grey-colored waterside birds. The term minutilla refers to “very small” in Medieval Latin. Quick Overview: Calidris Minutilla – Least SandpiperBody size: Around 6 in (15 cm) and a weight of 33 […]
Calidris Bairdii – Baird’s Sandpiper
Baird’s sandpiper is a tiny shorebird (Calidris bairdii). It is one of the calidrids that were previously classified in the genus Erolia before being absorbed into the genus Calidris in 1973. The genus name derives from the Ancient Greek kalidris or skalidris, Aristotle’s word for several grey-colored waterside birds. The English name and specific epithet […]
Calidris Maritima – Purple Sandpiper
Calidris maritima (purple sandpiper) is a tiny shorebird in the sandpiper family Scolopacidae. This resilient sandpiper breeds in Eurasia and North America’s arctic and subarctic regions and winters further south along the Atlantic coast. Quick Overview: Calidris Maritima – Purple SandpiperBody size: Around 9 in (23 cm) and a weight of 77g (2.7 oz) Main […]
Calidris Alpina – Dunlin
The dunlin (Calidris alpina) is a tiny wader that was previously classified with the other Erolia “stints.” The English term is a dialect variant of “dunling,” which was first attested between 1531 and 1532. It is derived from dun, “dull brown,” and the suffix -ling, which refers to a person or thing with the specified […]