The sanderling is a tiny wading bird (Calidris alba). The name stems from the Old English sand-yrling, which translates as “sand-ploughman.” The genus name derives from the Ancient Greek kalidris or skalidris, Aristotle’s word for several grey-colored waterside birds. Alba is Latin for “white.” It breeds in the circumpolar Arctic and is a long-distance migrant, […]
Calidris Ferruginea – Curlew Sandpiper
Curlew sandpipers (Calidris ferruginea) are tiny waders that breed in Arctic Siberia’s tundra. It is a migratory species, spending the winter primarily in Africa, but also in south and southeast Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. It is an invasive species in North America. Quick Overview: Calidris Ferruginea – Curlew SandpiperBody size: Around 7.5-8.5 in (19-22 […]
Calidris Himantopus – Stilt Sandpiper
The stilt sandpiper is a tiny shorebird (Calidris himantopus). The scientific term originates in Ancient Greek. Aristotle used the term kalidris or skalidris to refer to several grey-colored waterside birds. The genus name himantopus translates as “strap foot” or “thong foot.” Quick Overview: Calidris Himantopus – Stilt SandpiperBody size: Around 7.5-8.5 in (19-22 cm) and […]
Calidris Pugnax – Ruff
The ruff (Calidris pugnax) is a medium-sized wading bird found throughout northern Eurasia. It breeds in marshes and damp meadows. This gregarious sandpiper migrates and occasionally forms massive flocks in its wintering areas, which include southern and western Europe, Africa, southern Asia, and Australia. Quick Overview: Calidris Pugnax – RuffBody size: Around 8-12 in (20-30 […]
Arenaria Interpres – Ruddy Turnstone
The Ruddy turnstone (Arenaria interpres) is a small wading bird that is one of two turnstone species in the genus Arenaria. It is now categorized as a sandpiper in the Scolopacidae family but was previously classified as a plover in the Charadriidae family. It is a very migratory bird, breeding in northern Eurasia and North […]
Limosa Fedoa – Marbled Godwits
Marbled godwits, Limosa fedoa are huge migratory shorebirds belonging to the Scolopacidae family. It is the largest of the four godwit species on average. The marbled godwit is a big shorebird that breeds in the northern United States and southern Canada’s prairie pothole region. They make the longest continuous migrations of any bird and carry the highest fat loads of any migrating bird investigated thus far, diminishing the size of their digestive organs in […]
Limosa Haemastica – Hudsonian Godwit
The Hudsonian godwit (Limosa haemastica) is a big shorebird that belongs to the Scolopacidae family of sandpipers. Limosa is derived from the Latin word limus, which meaning “mud.” The term haemastica originates in Ancient Greek and meaning “bloody.” This bird was known as the red-breasted godwit in the 18th century. Quick Overview: Limosa Haemastica – […]
Limosa Limosa – Black- Tailed Godwit
Carl Linnaeus characterized the black-tailed godwit (Limosa limosa) in 1758 as a big, long-legged, long-billed shorebird. Limosa is a genus of godwits. There are four subspecies, all of which have an orange head, neck, and chest in breeding plumage, a dull grey-brown coloring in winter, and an always-present black and white wingbar. Quick Overview: Limosa […]
Numenius Americanus – Long-Billed Curlew
The long-billed curlew (Numenius americanus) is a big shorebird in the Scolopacidae family found in North America. Additionally, this species was known as the “sicklebird” and the “candlestick bird.” The species breeds throughout central and western North America and winters in the south and along the coast. Quick Overview: Numenius Americanus – Long-Billed CurlewBody size: […]
Numenius Phaeopus – Whimbrel
The Eurasian whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus) is a wading bird belonging to the vast Scolopacidae family. It is one of the most widespread curlews, breeding throughout much of subarctic Asia and Europe, all the way down to Scotland. This species and the Hudsonian whimbrel were recently separated, while some taxonomic authorities continue to regard them as […]