Bird · GBIF taxon 2481759
Dunlin
Calidris alpinaAlso known as Red-backed Sandpiper
Dunlins sweep across tidal mudflats in tightly coordinated flocks, probing wet soil with a rapid, machine-like rhythm. In breeding plumage, adults display a striking black belly patch contrasting with a rich rusty back, though they turn uniform grey-brown during winter. These resilient migratory shorebirds traverse thousands of kilometers between Arctic tundra nesting grounds and temperate coastal estuaries.
MigratoryShorebirdMudflat Forager
Licensed referenceCharles Homler d/b/a FocusOnWildlife / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
—observations
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—peak records
Near ThreatenedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNear ThreatenedRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Polychaete Worms
- Small Snails
- Amphipods
Predators
- Peregrine Falcon
- Merlin
- Arctic Fox
ThreatsLoss of coastal stopover habitat, wetland drainage, climate change, and coastal pollution
HabitatsCoastal mudflats, estuaries, lagoons, wet meadows, and Arctic tundra
Life span4–12 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyScolopacidae
- SpeciesCalidris alpina
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
- What to notice
- Recognizable by its slightly down-curved bill, medium size, and black belly patch in summer plumage.
- Support conservation
- Maintain a wide distance on mudflats to avoid forcing exhausted migratory birds into flight during feeding.
Responsible observation
- Observe from afar: Use a scope or telephoto lens to watch resting or feeding flocks without flushing them.
- Watch feeding style: Look for their distinctive rapid probing motion in wet mud, often compared to a sewing machine.
Predator Mykola Swarnyk / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Marco Chan, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Marco Chan · cc-by
Close Relative Alan D. Wilson / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Bill Keim, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Close Relative
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