About the Dunlin
The dunlin is a small wader in the genus Calidris. The English name is a dialect form of "dunling", first recorded in 1531–1532. It derives from dun, "dull brown", with the suffix -ling, meaning a person or thing with the given quality.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
ID tip
Measurements: Length: 16–20 cm (6.3–7.9 in) Weight: 34–77 g (1+1⁄4–2+3⁄4 oz) Wingspan: 38–43 cm (15–17 in) An adult dunlin in breeding plumage shows the distinctive black belly which no other similar-sized wader possesses. In winter, dunlins are greyish-brown above and white below. Juveniles are brown above with two weak whitish "V" shapes on the back, though less obvious than the same feature on little stint and some other species in the genus. They usually have black marks on the flanks or belly. All ages show a narrow white wingbar in flight. The legs and slightly decurved bill are black.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
What the Dunlin sounds like
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Colombia, Venezuela, Costa Rica, Somalia, Ecuador, Australia, New Zealand, Northern Mariana Islands, Cameroon, Dominican Republic, Paraguay.
When to see it
Peak activity in May · a resident species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaThis species has yellow-green legs and a short, thin, dark bill.
SanderlingCalidris albaThe sanderling is a small plump sandpiper, 18–20 cm (7–8 in) in length.
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaIt is a small sandpiper, 15–18 centimetres (6–7 inches) long and weighing around 18–51.5 grams (0.63–1.82 ounces).
Side by side: Dunlin vs Least Sandpiper · Dunlin vs Sanderling · Dunlin vs Semipalmated Sandpiper
Learn the Dunlin for real
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