UKBirds

Pectoral Sandpiper

Calidris melanotos

The Pectoral Sandpiper, Calidris melanotos, is a small wader. It is sometimes separated with the "stint" sandpipers in Erolia. This may or may not represent a good monophyletic group, depending on the placement of the phylogenetically enigmatic Curlew Sandpiper ("C." ferruginea), the type species of Erolia. In any case, the genus name Ereunetes - formerly used for the Western Sandpiper ("C." mauri) and Semipalmated Sandpiper ("C." pusilla), which are also members of the stint clade - was established before Erolia.

"Cox's Sandpiper" ("Calidris" x paramelanotos) is a stereotyped hybrid between this species and the Curlew Sandpiper. This does not prove a particularly close relationship between these two species, as far more distantly related waders have successfully hybridized. In any case, among the stint clade the Red-necked Stint ("C." ruficollis) and the Long-toed Stint ("C." subminuta) are particularly close relatives of the Pectoral Sandpiper.

This bird looks similar to the widely sympatric Sharp-tailed Sandpiper ("C." acuminata), which is not a member of the stint clade however. The Pectoral Sandpiper is a largish calidrid (and hence not traditionally included with the smallish stints), with a grey-brown back, brownest in the summer male, and greyest in winter. The Pectoral Sandpiper has a grey breast, sharply demarcated at its lower edge, which gives this species its English name; this clear dividing line is particularly conspicuous if the birds are turned towards the observer. The legs are yellowish, and the bill is olive with a darker tip.

The juveniles are more brightly patterned above with rufous colouration and white mantle stripes.

This species differs from the Sharp-tailed Sandpiper in its breast pattern, weaker supercilium and greyer crown.