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Long-toed sandpiper (Calidris subminuta). Order Charadriiformes, family Snipe. Habitat: Northeast Asia. Wingspan 32 cm Weight 35 g

Sandpipers inhabit the tundra and forest-tundra of Europe and Asia, preferring low-lying banks of rivers, overgrown with low polar trees and shrubs. These migratory birds fly to the Mediterranean and South Asia for the winter. One of the few waders that is not bothered by the human factor, the sandpiper willingly settles in the vicinity of cities and towns, perhaps because, due to its tiny size, the bird is not valuable as hunting prey.

The diet of sandpipers is poorly studied; ornithologists believe that it includes insects, their larvae and small invertebrate animals. These tiny sandpipers nest on the ground, in depressions in the soil, often on hummocks. The clutch usually contains 3-4 gray-green eggs with small brownish specks. There is information that only males incubate them and take care of the young; females migrate to the south immediately after laying eggs.

White-tailed Sandpiper

The name of the species alludes to the white color clearly visible on the tail. The white-tailed sandpiper is the size of a sparrow. The back is brownish-gray, with dark brown streaks. The chest is light brown with dark longitudinal shading, the belly and undertail are white. The legs are greenish or yellowish-gray. Female sandpipers mate alternately with two males and build two nests. The eggs of the first clutch are incubated by the male, and the second by the female. For the winter, white-tailed sandpipers fly to the south of Europe, Africa and the southern regions of Asia. During migration, some birds fly across the Himalayas at an altitude of about 6000 m above sea level.

The nest is a hole in the soil; There are 4 eggs in the clutch; they can be of different shades and covered with blurry spots. Up to 93% of all white-tailed sandpipers live in Russia; the range to the east extends to Chukotka, Anadyr and Kamchatka. Outside Russia, it is quite common in Scandinavia and northern Scotland.

Sandpiper Sparrow

One of the smallest sandpipers, the size of a sparrow. The cheeks, front part of the chest, throat and edges of the neck are reddish-buff, with streaks. The beak is short, thin and straight. Paws are black. They feed, like most waders, in shallow waters, walking along the muddy banks. Males display, hovering briefly in the air. It is interesting to note that females mate with two males. In this case, two nests are built. In the first, the eggs are incubated by the female, in the second - by the male.

There are up to 4 eggs in a clutch. Brown-olive with speckles of various colors from whitish to dark brown and gray-violet. In Russia, the sandpiper nests in the tundra; its range extends to the east to the northeastern part of Chukotka. For wintering grounds it flies to the shores of the Mediterranean, the Middle East, Central and South Africa.

Sandpiper - Calidris maritima- medium size, from a starling. The figure is stocky, the legs are short, the beak is of moderate length, dark, with a yellowish base. It differs well from all other waders of this size by its very dark color and yellow or grayish-yellow legs. Males and females have similar plumage, females are on average somewhat larger and longer-beaked (the beak of males is 26-29, females - 29-34 mm). In flight, they also look very dark from above, with white edges on the upper tail, and a narrow, clear white stripe along the wing. The underside of the wing is light only at the base, the entire carpal region and the ends of the secondaries are dark. Winter plumage is even darker than breeding plumage, more monotonous, there is no light eyebrow, no rufous edges, there is a reddish (purple) sheen on top (visible only close up). Molting into winter plumage begins in mid-July - mid-August, and on the Arctic coasts at the end of summer you can meet birds in different stages of changing plumage. Juveniles have a clearly defined white, buffy and rufous edging of the back and wing coverts, the feathers are smaller than those of adults, and the legs are brighter yellow. Weight 55-110 g, length 19-22 cm, wing 12.3-14.2 cm, span 40-44 cm (Ryabitsev, 2001).

The most common call is a loud but soft nasal “kyut”, “keut” or “kevit”. When mating, there is a ringing, rumbling trill (Ryabitsev, 2001).

A little-studied, apparently rare Arctic sandpiper. Breeds in certain areas of the Arctic coasts of America and Eurasia, largely on islands (Rogacheva, 1988). Within Siberia, nesting is established only in Taimyr and Severnaya Zemlya (Belikov, Randla, 1987).

The sandpiper in Taimyr is clearly confined to the marine Arctic tundra, and to a lesser extent to the polar deserts. It does not enter typical tundras along the shores of the Yenisei Bay (Vronsky, 1986). At the same time, in other parts of the range (Atlantic) it is also found in the more southern subzones of the tundra, which indicates the ecological plasticity of the species (Rogacheva, 1988). In Taimyr, where all tundra subzones and many different species of sandpipers are well represented, its nesting area is shifted to the north, and its distribution here is not entirely typical (Rogacheva, 1988). CM. Uspensky (1969) considers it a characteristic species of the Arctic tundra. Conclusion N.V. Vronsky (1986) that the nesting optimum of the species as a whole is within the polar deserts, and the distribution in the Arctic tundra is sporadic and introzonal, E.V. Rogacheva (1988) seems overly categorical. And, as she believes, within Central Siberia, the sandpiper, in zonal terms, can be considered a characteristic species of Arctic deserts.

Habitats. Nesting habitats are rocky or dry arctic tundra, coastal rocky placers, pebbles - bare or with sparse vegetation (Ryabitsev, 2001).

Phenology. There is almost no data on phenology. In Taimyr, clutches are full on June 18 and 20, chicks hatch on July 9-12 (Syroechkovsky, Rogacheva, 1980).

Reproduction. The nest is a hole in the ground or a depression among stones; the lining is sparsely planted. A typical clutch of 4 eggs, their color ranges from slightly ocher to grayish-brown or greenish-olive, with brown and red-brown spots of very different shapes and intensities. Egg dimensions are 33-42 x 24-29 mm. The main role in nesting care belongs to the male; females take part in incubation, but less often; they leave the nest and the male early (Ryabitsev, 2001).

Diet: small invertebrates (Syroechkovsky, Rogacheva, 1980).

Number. There is little specific data on numbers. N.V. Vronsky (1986) considers it a very rare species of polar desert coastal areas in the Dikson area (Rogacheva, 1988).

P. is the name of various small waders (by the way, see Carrier) - Tringa - family Scolopacidae, order Limicolae. All toes are completely free to the very base, the metatarsus is always longer than half the length of the beak; the beak is weakly or not at all widened at the end, there is a rear finger; steering wheels without transverse stripes. The genus contains 16 species, distributed throughout the northern hemisphere, nesting almost exclusively in the Far North, but often wintering in the southern hemisphere. They feed on insects, small crustaceans, worms, soft-bodied animals, and occasionally algae. Lay 4 eggs. There are 12 species in Russia, of which the most important. A) P., on the upper tail coverts of which white color predominates. 1) P. icelandic, or kerkun(Tr. canutus), folded wing 155-175 mm. The upperparts are brown, feathers with red spots and white edges; the underparts are red, but the sides, belly and undertail are white with dark spots. In winter, ash-gray above, white below with dark stripes. Breeds on Melville Island (80° north latitude) and Hudson Bay (55°); flying throughout Europe, wintering in Africa to the land of Damara, in Australia and New Zealand (flying through Japan and China) and in Brazil (flying along the Atlantic coast). In Northern Russia in spring it flies from the end of April to the end of May, back from the end of July; in Southern Russia - in October and November. 2) Redshank(Tr. subarcuata), folded wing 120-180 mm. The color resembles P. of Icelandic and in the summer plumage the bottom is red, like that one. Characteristic almost exclusively of the Old World; nesting sites are not yet open; flying throughout Europe and Northern Asia; winters throughout Africa, Asia to Ceylon and the Malay Archipelago and in Australia. Arrival in Northern Russia in spring from late April to late May, return from late July to September; in southern Russia in autumn from late July to October. C) P. with upper tail coverts, almost devoid of white, but the 7th, 8th and 9th flight feathers of the 2nd category are mostly white on top. 3) Dunlin, or Alpine(Tr. alpina); folded wing 105-125 mm, legs completely black. On top, the head, back and shoulders are gray, each feather with a dark center and a pale edge; wing coverts, rump and tail coverts are grayish-brown with dark centers of feathers; pure white below with dark stripes on the sides of the neck and on the crop. Circumpolar view; breeds in Greenland, on the British Isles, in Northern Russia from the Kola Peninsula to the Baltic region, in Asia to 74° north latitude, in America, probably further south; on the fly - everywhere; winters from the Mediterranean Sea to Zanzibar, in Asia on the Mekronian coast (rare in the East Indies), in Southern China, Borneo and Java, in America (flies on both coasts) in the southern states and the West Indies. Arrives in Northern Russia from the end of April, departs in July; in southern Russia appears in early April, partly remains in the summer, flies off in November. C) P. without white on the upper tail coverts and with gray wings 7, 8 and 9, 2nd category. 4) P. vulgare, or Easter cake sparrow(Tr. minuta). Grayish-brown above, each feather with a darker middle, the entire underside is pure white with a small admixture of gray on the sides of the chest. In summer, blackish-brown above, white below, yellow chest with brown spots. Legs are black. Folded wing 105 mm. Breeds in the tundra from the Kola Peninsula to the Taimyr Peninsula (74° north latitude), but in Eastern Russia much further south; migrating throughout Europe and Western Asia, wintering in Africa all the way to the south, throughout India and Ceylon. In Central Russia in the north it flies in May, back to St. Petersburg province from the end of July, in central Russia - from August. 5) P. small(Tr. Temmincki). The color is very close to P. vulgaris, but the legs are light, never shiny black. Breeds in the tundra from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean and along the banks of large rivers south to 65° north latitude; flying throughout Europe and Asia; winters in North Africa to 10° north latitude on the eastern side and to Senegambia on the western side, in Asia to Ceylon and the islands of the Malay Archipelago.

The long-tailed sandpiper is a medium-sized bird. These birds live in North America, Alaska and western Canada. And in winter they fly to South America, where they settle from Uruguay and Argentina to Brazil.

Description of the long-tailed sandpiper

This is a long-legged plover, the size of which ranges from 27 to 32 centimeters. Body weight does not exceed 140-200 grams. The bird's neck is thin and long. The head is small and round in shape. The beak is short and thin. The tail is long, it is clearly visible when the wings are folded, hence the name.

The legs are yellow-gray, the rump is black, the eyes are dark, the beak is yellow and its tip is dark. The tail has dark stripes. The upper parts of the wings are dark and the underwings are brown. The head is pale, the throat is whitish. Adults have a dark cap on their heads. The back is brown, and the belly and chest are white with V-shaped dark markings. Females and males have almost the same colors. The winter plumage of long-tailed sandpipers is slightly paler in comparison with the summer plumage.

The colors of the chickens include black, yellow, white and brown. A black stripe runs from the beak to the top of the head. The lower part of the body and chin are white. Young birds have a very pale head and no cap. The upper part of the body is darker, the neck is yellowish.

Behavior of long-tailed sandpipers

These birds live in family groups throughout the year, and during the breeding season they form pairs. One family group lives in an area with a diameter of up to 3.2 square kilometers. Their habitat is grassy areas with low vegetation - meadows, fields, pastures and prairies, where bluegrass, feather grass, timothy and wheatgrass grow. In February they begin to fly north.

It is not uncommon to see sandpipers sitting on fences, posts and tree stumps. They move along the ground, making short dashes, while shaking their heads.

When a sandstone notices food, it stops abruptly and picks it up. Long-tailed sandpipers find food using their keen eyesight; they do not poke around in sand and mud, as other waders do.

Sandpipers are mostly insectivorous birds. Their diet consists of earthworms, grasshoppers, beetles, flies, spiders, millipedes, ants and insect larvae. Also a small part of the diet consists of grains and seeds of grasses and weeds.

During the breeding season, long-tailed sandpipers sing songs that resemble a whistle, such as whit-wee-ee-yu, its pitch changes. This whistle carries over long distances.

Natural enemies of long-tailed sandpipers include raccoons, coyotes, badgers, striped skunks, American minks, Cooper's hawks, striped hawks, golden eagles, snowy owls, American kestrels, cats and domestic dogs. Among other things, they are hunted by people. Sandpipers also suffer from the fact that their nests are often trampled on pastures by domestic ungulates. The lifespan of these birds is approximately 5 years.

Reproduction of long-tailed sandpipers

The breeding season for long-tailed sandpipers occurs from early May to July. Sandpipers appear at nesting sites in late April or May. After 2-3 weeks they begin to build nests. During the season, long-tailed sandpipers make one clutch.

They nest in colonies. There may be one nest at a distance of 0.6 to 6 hectares. In this area there is an area for feeding and resting.

During courtship, the male flies behind the female in large circles and sings songs. When the birds descend to the ground, the male raises his tail and approaches his partner, while emitting a guttural whistle.

Long-tailed Sandpipers prefer to nest in tall grass in open fields, prairies, meadows and swamps. The nest looks like a small hole, the depth of which is 5-7.5 centimeters, and the diameter is 10-13 centimeters. The bottom of the nest is insulated with leaves, grass and twigs. The nest is invisible, as it is located among grass 15-40 centimeters high, which hangs over it from above.

The female lays 3-4 eggs that are greenish-yellow or pale olive in color with gray or brown speckles. When the enemy approaches the nest, the birds begin to scream loudly to divert attention to themselves.

Parents actively protect their children. Both parents hatch the eggs. Incubation lasts 21-28 days. The chicks are fluffy and long-legged, just like their parents. At 2 days old they already get out of the nest and accompany their parents. They acquire full plumage at one month of age. At about 30 days, young individuals already weigh the same as adults. Long-tailed Sandpipers reach puberty at approximately one year of age.

Population of long-tailed sandpipers

People actively hunt these birds. Although the long-tailed sandpiper has a range of 2.5 million square kilometers, the species' numbers are gradually declining. However, at the moment the population size does not cause concern.

The main reason for the decline in the number of long-tailed sandpipers is hunting, habitat destruction, the use of pesticides in agriculture and forest fires.

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Great Sandpiper somewhat larger than the starling. A small sandpiper with short legs. Found in pairs and flocks on the ground.

Spreading. From the Verkhoyansk Range east to the Chukotka Peninsula and the Koryak coast of the Bering Sea. To the north to the mountainous regions in the delta region of Kolyma and Chukotka, to the south to the Stanovoy and Dzhugdzhur ridges, the southwestern tip of Kolyma.

Biotope. Rubble placers in the mountain tundra.

Nature of stay. Migrant.

The great sandpiper nests in the alpine zone of the mountains of the Chukotka Peninsula, lingering on the sea coasts during migration. For the winter it flies to Northern Australia.

The sandpiper lays its eggs (4 grayish-yellow with reddish-brown spots) in a nesting hole, hidden in dense thickets of plants - mainly reindeer moss.

General color dark. The back is black, with rusty and light brownish spots. The underparts are white. The sides of the chest and crop are covered with black spots, forming stripes. The beak is long, the legs are greenish-brown. Young birds are duller in color. The plumage of puffer chicks perfectly matches their environment and resembles the color of a lichen-covered boulder.

It differs from other sandpipers in its large size, and from snails in its relatively short legs and voice. It is possible that this sandpiper is just a geographical race of the Icelandic sandpiper, however, in its breeding plumage it does not have a rufous color on the ventral side.

Literature:
1. Abstract of the ornithological fauna of the USSR. L. S. Stepanyan. Moscow, 1990
2. Boehme R.L., Kuznetsov A.A. Birds of forests and mountains of the USSR: Field guide, 1981
3. Birds of open and near-water areas of the USSR. R.L. Boehme, A.A. Kuznetsov. Moscow, 1983