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Spoon-billed Sandpiper

Eurynorhynchus pygmeusOrder: CHARADRIIFORMES Family: Sandpipers (Scolopacidae)
Codes: Common Name: SBSA Scientific Name: EURPYG ITIS Taxonomic No.: 176697
Critically Endangered
 
Spoon-billed Sandpiper: The breeding adult Spoon-billed Sandpiper has a chestnut and black mottled back that is edged in buff and white. The head is streaked rich chestnut brown and the underparts are white. Red-brown wash on face, neck, and spotted upper breast. Bill is black and flared at tip.
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Spoon-billed Sandpiper Variations

Spoon-billed Sandpiper
Juvenile
Spoon-billed Sandpiper
Spoon-billed Sandpiper
Breeding Adult
Spoon-billed Sandpiper

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Overview

Spoon-billed Sandpiper: Small sandpiper, scaled brown and black upperparts, red-brown wash on face, neck, spotted upper breast, white underparts. Most distinguishing characteristic is the extraordinarily flared tip on its black bill. Black legs, feet. Flight is swift and direct on rapid wing beats.

Range and Habitat

Spoon-billed Sandpiper: Breeds on the coast of far eastern Siberia. Apparently winters along the coasts of India and South Asia though its primary wintering grounds are unknown. Very rarely seen in Alaska.

Topo Map: Sandpiper-like Body


Voice Text

"wheet"

Interesting Facts

 The Spoonbill Sandpiper was first described by Linnaeus in his Systema Naturae in 1758 as Platalea pygmea. It was moved to its current genus by Sven Nilsson in 1821.

 This bird is endangered, with a current population of less than 2500 - probably less than 1000 - mature individuals.

 The main threats to its survival are habitat loss on its breeding grounds and loss of tidal flats through its migratory and wintering range.

 A group of sandpipers has many collective nouns, including a "bind", "contradiction", "fling", "hill", and "time-step" of sandpipers.


Bird Term Glossary



Author

Gary Owen Dick

Artist

David Wenzel

Splitbar
Range Map for Spoon-billed Sandpiper

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Family
Species Eurynorhynchus pygmeus
Length5.5 - 6.3 Inches
Wingspan11 - 12 Inches

Spoon-billed Sandpiper

Spoon-billed Sandpiper: Small sandpiper, scaled brown and black upperparts, red-brown wash on face, neck, spotted upper breast, white underparts. Most distinguishing characteristic is the extraordinarily flared tip on its black bill. Black legs, feet. Flight is swift and direct on rapid wing beats.

● Song: "wheet"

● Foraging & Feeding: Spoon-billed Sandpiper: Feeds in shallow water on mudflats, sweeping its unique bill from side to side and stepping forward slowly as it feeds. Eats insects, invertebrate larvae, and small clams.

● Breeding & nesting: Spoon-billed Sandpiper: Nests near the coast on sparsely vegetated sand or gravel bars. Lays three to four pale brown eggs with small brown spots that are incubated 18 to 20 days by both parents. Female leaves soon after chicks hatch and male raises young til he leaves when they are 15 to 20 days old.

● Similar species: Spoon-billed Sandpiper: Can be confused with the Red-necked Stint and Little Stint if the bill is not seen clearly.

Flight Pattern

Rapid flight with fast wingbeats.
Spoon-billed Sandpiper: Breeding Adult
● Range & Habitat: Spoon-billed Sandpiper: Breeds on the coast of far eastern Siberia. Apparently winters along the coasts of India and South Asia though its primary wintering grounds are unknown. Very rarely seen in Alaska.
BreedingMonogamous, Solitary nester
Population
MigrationMigratory
Weight1 Ounces
Sandpiper-like BodyX
UnderpartsX
Belly, undertail coverts, chest, flanks, and foreneck.
UpperpartsX
Back, rump, hindneck, wings, and crown.
BreastX
The upper front part of a bird.
FaceX
The front part of the head consisting of the bill, eyes, cheeks and chin.
4 and 6 letter alpha codesX

The four letter common name alpha code is is derived from the first two letters of the common first name and the first two letters of common last name. The six letter species name alpha code is derived from the first three letters of the scientific name (genus) and the first three letters of the scientific name (species). See (1) below for the rules used to create the codes..

Four-letter (for English common names) and six-letter (for scientific names) species alpha codes were developed by Pyle and DeSante (2003, North American Bird-Bander 28:64-79) to reflect A.O.U. taxonomy and nomenclature (A.O.U. 1998) as modified by Supplements 42 (Auk 117:847-858, 2000) and 43 (Auk 119:897-906, 2002). The list has been updated by Pyle and DeSante to reflect changes reported by the A.O.U from 2003 through 2006.

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ITIS CodesX

The Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) was established in the mid-1990�s as a cooperative project among several federal agencies to improve and expand upon taxonomic data (known as the NODC Taxonomic Code) maintained by the National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

To find the ITIS page for a bird species go to the ITIS web site advanced search and report page at http://www.itis.gov/advanced_search.html. You can enter the TSN or the common name of the bird. It will return the ITIS page for that bird. Another way to obtain the ITIS page is to use the Google search engine. Enter the string ITIS followed by the taxonomic ID, for example "ITIS 178041" will return the page for the Allen's Hummingbird.

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Parts of a Standing birdX
Head Feathers and MarkingsX
Parts of a Flying birdX