Species Profile
Pectoral Sandpiper
Calidris melanotos
Pectoral Sandpiper
Quick Facts
Conservation
LCLeast ConcernAlso known as: Pec
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Appearance
The Pectoral Sandpiper is a medium-sized shorebird with a distinctive brown-streaked breast that sharply contrasts with its white belly. It has a brown back with darker centers to the feathers, creating a scaly pattern.
The bill is slightly curved downwards and darker in breeding, becoming yellowish during the winter. Their long, slender legs are yellow-brown.
Both sexes are similar in appearance, though males are up to 30 percent larger. In breeding plumage, they display a more rufous tone on the upperparts. Juveniles resemble adults but have more buff-tipped feathers on the back. Younger birds also have a pale eye stripe.
Identification & Characteristics
Colors
- Primary
- Brown
- Secondary
- Black
- Beak
- Black
- Legs
- Yellow
Attributes
Understanding Attributes
Rated 0–100 based on research and observation. A score of 50 is average across all bird species. These attributes are relative and don't necessarily indicate superiority.
Habitat & Distribution
Pectoral Sandpipers breed in the Arctic tundra of North America and Siberia. During migration, they can be found in a variety of wetland habitats, including marshes, flooded fields, and mudflats.
They winter primarily in South America, with some populations reaching Australia and New Zealand. In North America, they are common migrants through the central and eastern United States and can be seen in all 50 states during passage.
Distribution
Diet
Pectoral Sandpipers primarily feed on insects and their larvae, including flies, midges, beetles and moths. They also consume small crustaceans and spiders. Their long bills allow them to probe deep into mud and shallow water to find prey.
Algae, plant material, and some seeds are also eaten. Occasionally, crickets, grasshoppers, bees, and wasps are also eaten, and in some regions, small minnows also feature in their diet.
Behaviour
Pectoral Sandpipers are known for their unique courtship displays. Males inflate their breasts and produce a low, hollow, booming sound to attract females.
During migration, they often form small flocks and can be seen probing the mud with their bills in search of food.
Calls & Sounds
Pectoral sandpipers are relatively vocal birds with a call that is a distinctive, low-pitched 'krreek' or 'chrrrip,' often given in flight.
During courtship, males produce a hollow, booming sound by inflating their breast sacs, creating a unique 'hoo-hoo-hoo' that can carry for long distances across the tundra.
Hooting and screaming is particularly heard by male birds in pursuit of females shortly before an attempt at copulation occurs.
Nesting & Breeding
Breeding occurs in the Arctic tundra from late May to July. Males perform elaborate courtship displays, inflating their breasts and producing booming calls to attract females.
Females construct a shallow scrape on the ground, often hidden in grass or sedges. They typically lay 4 eggs, which can be a variety of colors, including off-white, cream, buff and olive, with speckled markings that are brown, purple or gray.
The female incubates for about 21-23 days. The chicks are precocial and can leave the nest within a day of hatching, fledging after about 18-21 days.
Conservation
While currently listed as Least Concern, Pectoral Sandpipers face threats from habitat loss in both breeding and wintering grounds. Climate change impacts on Arctic breeding habitats are a growing concern. Conservation efforts focus on protecting key stopover sites along migration routes.
Birdwatching Tips
- Look for them in shallow wetlands and flooded fields during migration
- Observe their distinctive sharp breast line, which separates the streaked upper breast from the white belly
- Listen for their distinctive 'krreek' call during flight
- In North America, watch for them in late summer and early fall when they pass through in large numbers
Did You Know?
- Male Pectoral Sandpipers can lose up to 30% of their body weight during the intense breeding season.
- They have one of the longest migration routes of any shorebird, traveling up to 30,000 km (around 18,600 miles) annually.
- Despite their name, both males and females have pectoral (breast) inflation abilities.
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