Spotted Sandpiper (Chevallier grivelé)

Actitis macularius

Summary 6

The Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius syn. Actitis macularia) is a small shorebird, 18–20 cm long. Together with its sister species, the Common Sandpiper (A. hypoleucos) they make up the genus Actitis. They replace each other geographically; stray birds may settle down with breeders of the other species and hybridize.

Actitis macularius 7

Named for the dark-spotted breast of breeding individuals, the Spotted Sandpiper in summer is also characterized by its medium-length yellow bill, olive back, and black eye-stripes. In winter, the Spotted Sandpiper loses its spots, leaving behind a plain white breast. This is a medium-sized (7 ½ inches) sandpiper with the plump body and small head characteristic of shorebirds. Males and females are similar to one another in all seasons. One of the most widely-distributed sandpiper species in North America, Spotted Sandpipers breed from northern Canada and Alaska down to northern California, New Mexico, Missouri, and Virginia. In winter, this species migrates south to southern California, the desert southwest, and coastal regions of the southeast. Some populations winter as far south as Central America and the Caribbean. The Spotted Sandpiper’s wide distribution is influenced by its ability to inhabit a variety of shoreline habitats, including streams, ponds, and waterlogged grasslands. By contrast, Spotted Sandpipers prefer freshwater habitats during the summer breeding season. In winter, they may also be found near saltwater, particularly on mudflats and lagoons. Spotted Sandpipers are most easily observed foraging along the water’s edge. There, they may be seen bobbing up and down as they probe the mud for small insect larvae and crustaceans, which make up the majority of their diet. This species is primarily active during the day.

Threat Status: Least concern

Status 8

Status : NM

Date d'arrivée record: 11/03/1946 (Hudson)
Date de départ record: 2/12/2010 (Matane) QO 23(1):46

Mentions rares d'hivernage et de nidification
N: Dune du Nord (8/06/2011) nid avec 4 oeufs

Sources and Credits

  1. (c) Dick Daniels (http://carolinabirds.org/), some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1b/Spotted_Sandpiper_%28Actitis_macularia%29_RWD.jpg
  2. (c) Wikimedia Commons, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/46/Actitis-macularia-005.jpg/460px-Actitis-macularia-005.jpg
  3. (c) Wikimedia Commons, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e7/Actitis-macularia-004.jpg/460px-Actitis-macularia-004.jpg
  4. (c) Blake Matheson, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3134/3216742667_d6a98cc291_o.jpg
  5. (c) leppyone, some rights reserved (CC BY), http://www.flickr.com/photos/30609440@N00/2409996443
  6. Adapted by Roger Simard from a work by (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Actitis_macularius
  7. Adapted by Roger Simard from a work by (c) Unknown, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/22709996
  8. (c) Roger Simard, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)

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