About the Pectoral Sandpiper
The pectoral sandpiper, often abbreviated pec, is a small, migratory wader that breeds in arctic regions of North America and Asia, wintering in South America and Oceania. It eats small invertebrates. Its nest, a hole scraped in the ground and with a thick lining, is deep enough to protect its four eggs from the cool breezes of its breeding grounds. The pectoral sandpiper is 19–23 cm (7.5–9.1 in) long, with a wingspan of 38–46 cm (15–18 in).
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
ID tip
This bird looks similar to the widely sympatric sharp-tailed sandpiper (C. acuminata), which is not however a member of the same clade in the genus. The pectoral sandpiper is a largish calidrid (19–23 cm (7.5–9.1 in) in length, with a wingspan of 37–46 cm (15–18 in)) with a grey-brown back, brownest in the summer male, and greyest in winter. The pectoral sandpiper has a grey breast, sharply demarcated at its lower edge, which gives this species its English name; this clear dividing line is particularly conspicuous if the birds are turned towards the observer.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
What the Pectoral Sandpiper sounds like
Where the Pectoral Sandpiper lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Finland, Mongolia, Madagascar, Latvia, Algeria, Estonia, Jersey, Luxembourg, Cook Islands, Wallis & Futuna.
When to see the Pectoral Sandpiper
Peak activity in September · a passage migrant species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Western SandpiperCalidris mauriAdults have dark legs and a short, thin, dark bill, thinner at the tip.
RuffCalidris pugnaxThe ruff has a distinctive pot-bellied appearance, with a small head, medium-length bill, longish neck and heavy body.
Red KnotCalidris canutusThe red knot or just knot is a medium-sized shorebird which breeds in tundra and the Arctic Cordillera in the far north of Canada, Europe, and Russia.
Side by side: Pectoral Sandpiper vs Semipalmated Sandpiper · Pectoral Sandpiper vs Ruff · Pectoral Sandpiper vs Western Sandpiper
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