Dunlin

Calidris alpina
Sandpipers (Scolopacidae)

CC-BY 2.0 rights : Mike Baird

Small sandpiper with a long black slightly curved beak. The feathers differ per season and per age. In winter a grey back with a white belly. In summer a red-brown appearance, with white flanks, breast with black markings and a completely black belly.

Walking leaning a little forward, looking for food with the head between the shoulders. Mostly seen in large groups displaying synchronised acrobatic flights. 

⇔ l. 17-21 cm

After breeding the ♀ leaves, the ♂ nurses the young. A migratory bird breeding up north and in winter southwards along the coast.

LA:
A light stripe across the wings visible when flying is characteristic for the CALIDRIS birds. 
≈ The CALIDRIS ALBA (Sanderling) is a little larger, darker and a shorter straight beak, and has only three front pointing toes. 
≈ The CALIDRIS FERRUGINEA (Curlew Sandpiper) has a stone red belly in its breeding plumage.

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