Quick Answer
Yes, the Sanderling is considered a type of sandpiper. Specifically, it is a member of the genus Calidris, which consists entirely of sandpipers. The Sanderling shares many traits with other sandpipers, including physical features like body shape and behavior. Its scientific name is Calidris alba, reflecting its classification as a Calidris sandpiper species.
What is a Sanderling?
The Sanderling is a small shorebird that breeds in the Arctic and migrates long distances to beaches and coastal mudflats in temperate and tropical regions for the non-breeding season. Here are some key facts about Sanderlings:
- Scientific Name: Calidris alba
- Length: 6.3-8.7 inches
- Wingspan: 14-16 inches
- Weight: 1.4-3.4 ounces
- Coloring: In breeding plumage, they have a reddish neck and head, a black and white spotted back, and a white belly. In non-breeding plumage, they are gray above and white below.
- Diet: Mainly insects, crustaceans, mollusks, and other invertebrates
- Behavior: Sanderlings run rapidly along the beach in small flocks, probing for prey in the sand or among seaweed along the tideline. They nest on barren tundra grounds.
- Range: Breeds in Arctic regions. Winters along coasts throughout much of the world.
- Habitat: Sandy beaches, tidal flats, tundra
- Population Status: Estimated at 500,000 individuals globally with stable population trends.
What is a sandpiper?
Sandpipers are a large family of small to medium-sized shorebirds that belong to the order Charadriiformes. Here are some typical traits of sandpipers:
- Size: 5-12 inches in length
- Shape: Plump, rounded body on short legs; long wings; long, slender bill
- Coloring: Cryptic browns, grays, and whites. Breeding plumage often includes richer reddish-browns.
- Behavior: Run actively along the ground probing for invertebrates. Some may pivot to stir up prey. Most nest on the ground.
- Habitat: Coasts, wetlands, mudflats, grasslands
- Examples of common sandpiper species:
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularius Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea
There are over 80 species of sandpipers worldwide. They are divided into multiple genera including Actitis, Tringa, Calidris, and others.
Sandpiper Identification Tips
Identifying sandpipers to species can be very challenging due to their similarities, but here are some tips:
- Look at bill size, shape, and curvature – this is one of the best indicators of species.
- Note leg length and color since some species have yellowish legs while others are black.
- Check for eye-rings or eye-stripes which are prominent on some species.
- Look at plumage patterns on the back, wings, head, and breast for distinguishing marks.
- Consider size, though there is much overlap between small and large species.
- Listen for distinct vocalizations which can help pinpoint the species.
- Watch behavior like feeding techniques which vary by species.
- Pay attention to range and habitat to narrow down possibilities.
It’s best to use a combination of these factors, along with guidebooks or expert help, to accurately ID sandpipers.
How Sanderlings Compare to Sandpipers
Now let’s look specifically at how Sanderlings compare to other sandpipers in terms of physical traits, behavior, habitat, and more:
Physical Attributes
- Size and proportions: Sanderlings are a small to medium-sized sandpiper, averaging 6.7-8.5 inches in length. Their proportions, with a plump rounded body shape, short legs, and medium-long bill are very typical of sandpipers.
- Bill shape: The Sanderling has a straight, slender bill that tapers slightly towards the tip. This bill shape is seen in many other sandpipers.
- Plumage: Sanderlings in breeding plumage have rich reddish coloration on the head, neck, and upper breast. Their back is black and white spotted. This cryptic breeding plumage resembles that of other sandpipers.
- Legs: Black legs are found on Sanderlings and many other sandpiper species.
Overall, the Sanderling exhibits the classic physical traits of sandpipers in terms of proportions, bill shape, cryptic breeding plumage, and black legs.
Behavior
- Feeding: Sanderlings forage by running rapidly along sandy beaches, using their bill to probe for insects and other prey buried in the sand. This is typical feeding behavior for sandpipers.
- Migration: Sanderlings undertake long migrations from Arctic breeding areas to temperate and tropical coasts. These marathon migrations are characteristic of sandpipers.
- Breeding: Sanderlings nest on barren tundra grounds, laying their eggs in shallow scrapes in the ground vegetation. Ground-nesting on open tundra is seen in many sandpipers.
- Social: Outside of breeding season, Sanderlings gather in large flocks at coastal stopover sites and wintering grounds. Many sandpipers species are also highly social.
The habits and behaviors of Sanderlings align very closely with other sandpiper species in terms of their feeding style, migratory tendencies, nesting habits, and sociality outside of breeding season.
Habitat
- Breeding habitat: Sanderlings breed in high Arctic areas with sparse tundra vegetation. This barren, open tundra habitat is used by many other sandpiper species for nesting and rearing young.
- Migration stopovers: On migration, Sanderlings stop over on coastal beaches and estuaries to rest and feed. These coastal habitats are migration hotspots for sandpipers.
- Non-breeding habitat: In winter, Sanderlings inhabit sandy beaches, estuaries, and tidal mudflats rich in marine invertebrate prey. These habitats are commonly used by overwintering sandpipers.
Sanderlings use the core coastal and inland tundra habitats frequented by migrating and wintering sandpipers. Their niche aligns closely with sandpiper habitat preferences.
Range
The breeding range of Sanderlings is entirely within the circumpolar region, spanning Arctic areas of North America, Europe, Asia, and the High Arctic islands. This Arctic breeding distribution is shared by many sandpiper species. During the non-breeding season, Sanderlings migrate down through North America and Eurasia, reaching as far south as South America and southern Africa. Their cosmopolitan winter range encompasses areas used by wintering populations of other sandpiper species.
Taxonomy
The Sanderling is classified in the genus Calidris, which it shares exclusively with other sandpipers. There are no non-sandpiper species contained within the Calidris genus. The genus name Calidris itself denotes its taxonomic status as a sandpiper genus. Furthermore, it’s scientific name is Calidris alba. This binomial name clearly associates it with the Calidris sandpipers based on its genus.
Evidence from Expert Sources
Expert ornithology sources unanimously recognize and classify Sanderlings within the sandpiper family:
- The Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s All About Birds site lists the Sanderling on its “Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Relatives” page.
- The Audubon Guide to North American Birds lists the Sanderling under “Sandpipers.”
- The American Ornithological Society includes the Sanderling within its list of Calidris sandpipers.
- The Shorebird Guide by Michael O’Brien et al. covers the Sanderling as part of its sandpiper account.
- The Kaufman Field Guide to Advanced Birding by Kenn Kaufman categorizes the Sanderling as a sandpiper.
These authoritative sources unanimously confirm the status of Sanderlings within the sandpiper family based on shared traits, taxonomy, and relationships.
Conclusion
In summary, the preponderance of evidence clearly demonstrates that the Sanderling is classified as a type of sandpiper:
- Sanderlings exhibit the typical physical features of sandpipers including body proportions, bill shape, plumage patterns, and leg color.
- Their behaviors align closely with other sandpipers in terms of feeding style, migratory habits, nesting, and sociality.
- Sanderlings use the same coastal and High Arctic habitats frequented by sandpiper species.
- They belong to the sandpiper genus Calidris and their scientific name denotes this relationship.
- Expert ornithology sources unanimously group Sanderlings along with other sandpipers.
Based on all evidence – morphological, behavioral, ecological, taxonomic, and expert opinion – the Sanderling clearly belongs to the sandpiper family as a close relative of other Calidris sandpipers. When identifying shorebirds, Sanderlings can definitively be categorized within the sandpiper group. Their many shared traits and evolutionary relationships confirm their status as a true sandpiper species.