Newsletter / Blog
2012-04-15 Mega sighting – Buff-breasted Sandpiper – Namibia
A Buff-breasted
Sandpiper – Tryngites subruficollis –
sighted on Friday 13th at Mile 4 Salt Works north of Swakopmund.
Buff-breasted
Sandpiper
The Buff-breasted Sandpiper – Tryngites subruficollis – breeds in the
open arctic tundra of North America and is a very long-distance migrant,
spending the non-breeding season mainly in South America, especially Argentina. It
migrates mainly through central North America,
and is uncommon on the coasts. It occurs as a regular wanderer to Western Europe. Outside the breeding season, this bird is
normally found on short-grass habitats such as airfields or golf-courses,
rather than near water. It is sometimes referred to as a
"grasspiper," because of its preference for grassy areas over the
coastal mudflats favored by most shorebirds.
Description
This small,
attractive bird has a long, straight bill and greenish-yellow legs. The sexes
are alike in colouration. They both have a pale brown body elegantly spotted
with black. The crown has fine streaks of black which extend down the hind neck
and over the back to the tail, giving the appearance of overlapping black
scales on the upperparts. The sides of the head and body are paler brown with
less conspicuous black markings, fading to cream on the throat and breast.
Juveniles are slightly paler overall
Call
Usually silent in
flight, but occasionally utters a low soft “gerk” on rising. A strange clicking
sound. This is the call of a male Buff-breasted Sandpiper courting a female on
their breeding grounds far north of the Arctic Circle.
He raises his wings, flashing their silvery-white undersides, as he sings his
clicking serenade.
Food
Buff-breasted
sandpipers feed on earthworms, aquatic insects and larvae, and seeds. They
forage in small flocks of up to 15 birds.
Breeding
The Buff-breasted
Sandpiper is unique among North American shorebirds in having a lek mating
system. Males defend relatively small territories that provide no resources for
females and are simply display sites to which females can be attracted. Females
select a mate and then leave to nest and raise their chicks elsewhere. They breed
in dry, grassy tundra and nest on the ground, laying 2 to 5 eggs. The chicks
leave the nest less than 12 hours after hatching in order to feed themselves.
Conservation Status – Near Threatened
Population
declined from millions to near extinction by 1920s largely due to hunting.
Numbers appeared to increase, but may be declining again. The modern threats
are not understood but it has been suggested that habitat change at the
breeding sites has prevented adequate reproductive rates. It appears to rely on
intensive grazing by livestock, but previously grazed pampas is being converted
to agricultural land. It may also be susceptible to the agricultural pesticides
used in the regions passed through on migration. Conservation action for the
buff-breasted sandpiper is in the early stages, with work being done to
preserve grassland habitats.
Birdwatching
Ask Aves
Birding Tours/Safaris/Adventures to create a custom tour for you to see
these threatened shorebirds. |