Dunlin
If you spot clouds of bird flashing between brilliant white and darker color as they swirl back and forth near the complex, then you have just witnessed the dance of dunlin. Dunlin (Calidris alpina), also known as red-backed Sandpiper is a shorebird about the size of a sanderling that are found around the world. Dunlin breeds across the coastal area of both North America and Eurasia, and they winter along coasts around the northern Hemisphere (Pough 2003). Dunlin can be seen in all three refuges on the Complex at a suitable habitat. The natural habitats of dunlin consist of coastal mudflats or sandy beaches (Pattern 2003).
Classification
Dunlin is in the family of Scolopacidae (order Charadriiformes), which have small to medium sized shorebirds and live in various type of wetland habitats. The genus of dunlin is Calidrids, which are a group of Arctic-breeding birds with relatively short billed (Pattern 2003). The genus Calidrids also includes Great knot (Calidris tenuirostris), Red knot (Calidris canutus), Sanderling (Calidris alba), Semipalmated sandpiper (Calidris pusilla), Western sandpiper (Calidris mauri), Red-necked stint (Calidris ruficollis), Little stint (Calidris minuta), Temminck's stint (Calidris temminckii), Long-toed stint (Calidris subminuta), Least sandpiper (Calidris minutilla), White-rumped sandpiper (Calidris fuscicollis), Baird's sandpiper (Calidris bairdii), Pectoral sandpiper (Calidris melanotos), Sharp-tailed sandpiper (Calidris acuminata), Curlew sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea), Purple sandpiper (Calidris maritima), Rock sandpiper (Calidris ptilocnemis), Stilt sandpiper (Calidris himantopus) (Sibley 2003). Conservation Status Dunlins are the most abundant shorebird species at coastal region. It has a large geographical range therefore it is a species of less concern. Description The size of dunlin is about 8 inches (20 cm) and has a black bill that is slightly long and down curved at the tip. The closed wings are the same length as the tail. They have short black legs. Juvenile dunlins often have a more pattern with dark centered brown feathers on the back of the wings (Sibley 2003). They often have a mix of brown chestnut and gray feather with streaked breast and spotted belly sides. Most juvenile dunlin will plumage into adult winter plumage when they arrive at the shore (Pattern 2003). Adult non-breeding winter dunlins have plain gray-brown above and with clean white bellies. Adult breeding dunlins have a plumage that is brightly colored, rufous back with black belly (Sibley 2003). During the flight the adult non-breeding bird look silver and white, whereas the adult breeding dunlin have obvious black belly. Dunlin face lacks a strong feature, but the head is soft and plain with large eyes (Pough 2003). Similar Species In the National Wildlife Refuge Complex dunlin might be misidentified with the Sanderling (Calidris alba), Western sandpiper (Calidris mauri), Least sandpiper (Calidris minutilla), Baird's sandpiper (Calidris bairdii), Pectoral sandpiper (Calidris melanotos). Sanderlings have similar body size as dunlin, but the nonbreeding adult have very pale gray plumage and breeding adult do not have black belly. Western sandpipers have a clean white throat and chest and have smaller bill and body size than dunlin. Least sandpipers have yellow legs and short, thin drooping bill than dunlin. Baird’s sandpipers are not common in the mudflats and their wing extends beyond the tail. Pectoral sandpiper have greenish long leg and much larger than dunlin (Sibley 2003). Distribution/Abundance: The geographical range of dunlin is worldwide. …show more content…
Suitable region for dunlin to breeds is in the Arctic and sub-Arctic, which favors the wet tundra around the North Pole. Dunlin spends the winter months along the seacoasts from Europe to tropical Africa and parts of America. In the summer, migrant of dunlin take place from Southampton Island to West Alaska and south to North Manitoba, South Mackenzie, and Yukon delta. In winter dunlin can occur from New Jersey and British Columbia south along the coast of Florida, Texas, and Lower California, and along the Pacific coastal area. Dunlin can also be found in East of the Mississippi, especially around the Great Lakes (Pough 2003). Dunlin can be found in the wetland of all three refuges of the Complex, but it might not be visible from the nature trail or the observation area. Habitat Dunlin inhabits the tidal flats, ocean beaches, muddy pools and breeds in the areas with low ridges interspersed with marshy spots (Cramp
If you spot clouds of bird flashing between brilliant white and darker color as they swirl back and forth near the complex, then you have just witnessed the dance of dunlin. Dunlin (Calidris alpina), also known as red-backed Sandpiper is a shorebird about the size of a sanderling that are found around the world. Dunlin breeds across the coastal area of both North America and Eurasia, and they winter along coasts around the northern Hemisphere (Pough 2003). Dunlin can be seen in all three refuges on the Complex at a suitable habitat. The natural habitats of dunlin consist of coastal mudflats or sandy beaches (Pattern 2003).
Classification
Dunlin is in the family of Scolopacidae (order Charadriiformes), which have small to medium sized shorebirds and live in various type of wetland habitats. The genus of dunlin is Calidrids, which are a group of Arctic-breeding birds with relatively short billed (Pattern 2003). The genus Calidrids also includes Great knot (Calidris tenuirostris), Red knot (Calidris canutus), Sanderling (Calidris alba), Semipalmated sandpiper (Calidris pusilla), Western sandpiper (Calidris mauri), Red-necked stint (Calidris ruficollis), Little stint (Calidris minuta), Temminck's stint (Calidris temminckii), Long-toed stint (Calidris subminuta), Least sandpiper (Calidris minutilla), White-rumped sandpiper (Calidris fuscicollis), Baird's sandpiper (Calidris bairdii), Pectoral sandpiper (Calidris melanotos), Sharp-tailed sandpiper (Calidris acuminata), Curlew sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea), Purple sandpiper (Calidris maritima), Rock sandpiper (Calidris ptilocnemis), Stilt sandpiper (Calidris himantopus) (Sibley 2003). Conservation Status Dunlins are the most abundant shorebird species at coastal region. It has a large geographical range therefore it is a species of less concern. Description The size of dunlin is about 8 inches (20 cm) and has a black bill that is slightly long and down curved at the tip. The closed wings are the same length as the tail. They have short black legs. Juvenile dunlins often have a more pattern with dark centered brown feathers on the back of the wings (Sibley 2003). They often have a mix of brown chestnut and gray feather with streaked breast and spotted belly sides. Most juvenile dunlin will plumage into adult winter plumage when they arrive at the shore (Pattern 2003). Adult non-breeding winter dunlins have plain gray-brown above and with clean white bellies. Adult breeding dunlins have a plumage that is brightly colored, rufous back with black belly (Sibley 2003). During the flight the adult non-breeding bird look silver and white, whereas the adult breeding dunlin have obvious black belly. Dunlin face lacks a strong feature, but the head is soft and plain with large eyes (Pough 2003). Similar Species In the National Wildlife Refuge Complex dunlin might be misidentified with the Sanderling (Calidris alba), Western sandpiper (Calidris mauri), Least sandpiper (Calidris minutilla), Baird's sandpiper (Calidris bairdii), Pectoral sandpiper (Calidris melanotos). Sanderlings have similar body size as dunlin, but the nonbreeding adult have very pale gray plumage and breeding adult do not have black belly. Western sandpipers have a clean white throat and chest and have smaller bill and body size than dunlin. Least sandpipers have yellow legs and short, thin drooping bill than dunlin. Baird’s sandpipers are not common in the mudflats and their wing extends beyond the tail. Pectoral sandpiper have greenish long leg and much larger than dunlin (Sibley 2003). Distribution/Abundance: The geographical range of dunlin is worldwide. …show more content…
Suitable region for dunlin to breeds is in the Arctic and sub-Arctic, which favors the wet tundra around the North Pole. Dunlin spends the winter months along the seacoasts from Europe to tropical Africa and parts of America. In the summer, migrant of dunlin take place from Southampton Island to West Alaska and south to North Manitoba, South Mackenzie, and Yukon delta. In winter dunlin can occur from New Jersey and British Columbia south along the coast of Florida, Texas, and Lower California, and along the Pacific coastal area. Dunlin can also be found in East of the Mississippi, especially around the Great Lakes (Pough 2003). Dunlin can be found in the wetland of all three refuges of the Complex, but it might not be visible from the nature trail or the observation area. Habitat Dunlin inhabits the tidal flats, ocean beaches, muddy pools and breeds in the areas with low ridges interspersed with marshy spots (Cramp