>> GENERAL >>>>>
– medium-sized wader, size of Dunlin
– nocturnal/diurnal migrant
– migrates singly or in small flocks sometimes mixed with other Calidris
– BREED plumage very different from NBREED
>> VISUAL ID >>>>>
Sanderling Calidris a. alba, AD BREED
BIF3001, 06/06/2019, Látrabjarg, Iceland, Patrick Franke
Sanderling Calidris a. alba, AD BREED
BIF3000, 06/06/2019, Látrabjarg, Iceland, Patrick Franke
Sanderling Calidris a. alba, AD BREED -> NBREED
Dunlin Calidris alpina ssp., 1CY
BIF2727, 22/08/2018, Helgoland, Germany, Roland Neumann
– aged as AD due to bleached remiges and coverts
– shortest bill of the larger Calidris, rather blunt tip
Sanderling Calidris a. alba, AD BREED -> NBREED, 3rd from right
Dunlin Calidris alpina ssp., AD NBREED and 1CY
BIF2728, 22/08/2018, Helgoland, Germany, Roland Neumann
– generally colder greyish and more coarsely patterned than accompanying Dunlins
Sanderling Calidris a. alba, AD BREED -> NBREED, 4th from left
Dunlin Calidris alpina ssp., AD NBREED and 1CY
BIF2731, 22/08/2018, Helgoland, Germany, Roland Neumann
– the underside is largely pure white, dark pattern confined to the breast
– underwing pattern the same as in Dunlin
Sanderling Calidris a. alba, AD BREED
BIF3002, 06/06/2019, Látrabjarg, Iceland, Patrick Franke
Sanderling Calidris a. alba, AD BREED
BIF3003, 06/06/2019, Látrabjarg, Iceland, Patrick Franke
Sanderling Calidris a. alba, AD BREED -> NBREED, 1st and 3rd from left
Dunlin Calidris alpina ssp.
BIF2729, 22/08/2018, Helgoland, Germany, Roland Neumann
– greyer base colour
– dark center of rump and uppertail coverts often appears narrower than in Dunlin
Sanderling Calidris a. alba, AD BREED
BIF2734, 11/05/2018, Helgoland, Germany, Roland Neumann
– AD BREED uppersides dark rufous, in fresh BREED the mantle feathers show whitish fringes resulting in a scaly appearance
Sanderling Calidris a. alba, AD BREED -> NBREED
Dunlin Calidris alpina ssp., AD NBREED and 1CY
Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula ssp., 1CY
BIF2732, 22/08/2018, Helgoland, Germany, Roland Neumann
– can you pick out the two Sanderlings?
Sanderling Calidris a. alba, AD NBREED
Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres, NBREED
BIF2047 09/11/2013, Helgoland, Germany, Mathias Putze
– AD NBREED dark plumage parts black thus even more contrasting than 1CY
Sanderling Calidris a. alba, AD NBREED
Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria i. interpres, AD NBREED
BIF2048 09/11/2013, Helgoland, Germany, Mathias Putze
– in NBREED grey back strongly contrasting to black and white wings
Sanderling Calidris a. alba, 1CY
BIF2053, 02/10/2012, Baltic Sea, offshore, Martin Grimm
– 1CY compared to other Calidris very contrasting dark-grey and white
– extensive white head
Sanderling Calidris a. alba, 1CY
BIF2053, 06/09/2022, Germany, Helgoland, Mathias Putze
– 1CY compared to ADD NBREED with dark neck side
Sanderling Calidris a. alba, 1CY
BIF2049 21/09/2016, Besh Barmag, Azerbaijan, Michael Heiß
– 1CY paler than NBREED and with hint of throat-collar
– no obvious contrast from back to upperwing
Sanderling Calidris a. alba, 1CY
BIF2050 16/09/2016, Besh Barmag, Azerbaijan, Michael Heiß
Sanderling Calidris a. alba, 1CY
BIF2051 16/09/2016, Besh Barmag, Azerbaijan, Michael Heiß
Sanderling Calidris a. alba, 1CY
BIF2052 18/10/2017, Helgoland, Germany, Roland Neumann
– more white in upperwings than other Calidris
Sanderling Calidris a. alba, 1CY
Dunlin Calidris alpina ssp., 1CY
Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria i. interpres NBREED
BIF2054 18/10/2017, Helgoland, Germany, Roland Neumann
– about same size as Dunlin but note clean white underside and colder tones
Sanderling Calidris a. alba, 1CY
Ruff Calidris pugnax, 1CY M
Dunlin Calidris alpina ssp., 1CY
Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula ssp., AD, 1CY
Little Stint Calidris minuta, 1CY
Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica ssp., 1CY
BIF1977, 21/09/2016, Besh Barmag, Azerbaijan, Michael Heiß
– in mixed flocks (e.g. the lowest bird to the right) stands out because of completely white underside and dark upperwing
Sanderling Calidris a. alba, predominantly AD BREED -> NBREED
BIF3073, 16/08/2019, North Sea, offhore, Roland Neumann
Sanderling Calidris a. alba
Dunlin Calidris alpina ssp.
BIF2733, 19/02/2018, Otterndorf, Germany, Roland Neumann
– at greater distance the contrasting black and white wings make an ID possible
>> ACOUSTIC ID >>>>>
– in flight usually a single, metallic call like ‘wink’ or ‘wit’
– quite variable, fast monophonic finch-like upslur or rather complex shapes
Sanderling Calidris a. alba, AD, call in flight
BIF2996, 30/05/2019, Langanes, Iceland, Patrick Franke
Sanderling Calidris a. alba, AD, call in flight
BIF2995, 30/05/2019, Langanes, Iceland, Patrick Franke
Sanderling Calidris a. alba, AD, call in flight
BIF2994, 30/05/2019, Langanes, Iceland, Patrick Franke
Sanderling Calidris a. alba, call in flight
BIF2074, 26/09/2014, Prerow, Germany, Patrick Franke
Sanderling Calidris a. alba, calls in flight
BIF2075, 26/09/2014, Prerow, Germany, Patrick Franke
– the recording is intended to convey the impression of distant birds
Sanderling Calidris a. alba, calls in flight
BIF2076, 26/09/2014, Prerow, Germany, Patrick Franke
– the recording is intended to convey the impression of distant birds
>> COMPARISON SPECIES >>>>>
Red Knot (v)
Curlew Sandpiper
Dunlin
Little Stint
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