{"id":6862,"date":"2024-10-30T00:02:20","date_gmt":"2024-10-30T00:02:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/biol325\/?p=6862"},"modified":"2024-10-30T15:52:56","modified_gmt":"2024-10-30T15:52:56","slug":"the-spotted-sandpiper-teetering-and-twirling-in-the-tidal-zone","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/biol325\/2024\/10\/30\/the-spotted-sandpiper-teetering-and-twirling-in-the-tidal-zone\/","title":{"rendered":"The Spotted Sandpiper: Teetering and Twirling in the Tidal Zone"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Introduction:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Common name: <\/strong>Spotted Sandpiper
Scientific name: <\/strong>Actitis macularius<\/em>
Order: <\/strong>Charadriiformes
Family: <\/strong>Scolopacidae
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Widely spotted<\/em> across North and Central America, this little shorebird, Actitis macularius<\/em> is known as the Spotted Sandpiper<\/strong>. It stands out with its distinctive features and quirky behaviour, making it a favourite among bird watchers and ornithologists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Description and Identification<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Spotted Sandpiper is a medium-sized bird, roughly the size of an American Robin; but more precisely their body length is 18-20 cm with a wing span of approximately 37 cm (14.5 inches) (All About Birds). In the non-breeding season, the Spotted Sandpiper has a brown\/grey back, a bright white breast, and bright yellow legs (All About Birds). Unlike their legs, their beaks rock a much more pale yellow\/orange colour with a black tip (All About Birds<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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If you\u2019re lucky enough to catch a glimpse of these guys in flight you will also notice a distinct white band along their wings (All About Birds<\/a>). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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During the breeding season, the Spotted Sandpiper earns its name with their striking dark spots that take over their previously white belly and their back becomes increasingly more brown and bill more orange. These fantastic birds also have a striking brown line through their eye line, followed by a white line above.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Credit: Gail from Flickr<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\u00a9 Ian Hearn Macaulay Library Idaho, June 21, 2017<\/a> \u00a9 Darlene Friedman Macaulay Library<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Figure 1: a) Adult Spotted Sandpiper in non-breeding plumage (Photo by Ian Hearn<\/a>). b) Adult Spotted Sandpiper in breeding plumage (Darlene Friedman<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Besides identification by colour, these birds can also be easily identified by their fantastic dancing or quirky characteristic of teetering, known as a constant bobbing of their tail as they forage. This characteristic makes them easy to identify year-round without the trouble of breeding and non-breeding plumage (All About Birds). However, the reason behind this behaviour is not fully yet understood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A glimpse into the dance moves these birds have\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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