Western Sandpiper (Calidris mauri)

Order: Charadriiformes | Family: Scolopacidae | IUCN Status: Least Concern

western-sandpiper
Age: Adult, basic plumage | Sex: Unknown | Loc. Paracas, Ica

western-sandpiper
Age: Adult, basic plumage | Sex: Unknown | Loc. Paracas, Ica

western-sandpiper
Age: Adult, basic plumage | Sex: Unknown | Loc. Paracas, Ica

western-sandpiper
Age: Adult, Pre-basic plumage? | Sex: Unknown | Loc. Paracas, Ica

Identification & Behavior: ~15 cm (6 in). The Western Sandpiper in basic plumage is gray with a white belly. The alternate plumage is mottled with rusty, gray, and black in the back and streaked in the breast. The belly is pale. The bill is relatively long and dropped in the tip. The legs are black. It is distinguished from the similar Semipalmated Sandpiper by a longer and slightly dropped bill, but there is some degree of overlap in bill length. Also, see Least Sandpiper

Status: The Western Sandpiper is a common Boreal migrant to the coast of Peru during the months of September through April. Some individuals overwinter in South America. It also occurs in Co, Ec, and Ch.

Name in Spanish: Playerito Occidental.

Sub-species: Western Sandpiper (Calidris mauri), Cabanis 1857.

Meaning of Name: Calidris: Gr. kalidris, skalidris= shorebird the color of ash mentioned by Aristotle. mauri: in honor of Italian botanist Ernesto Mauri.

See more of the Family Scolopacidae   peru aves

Distribution Map
western-sandpiperVoice

References:

    • Species range based on: Schulenberg, T. S., D. F. Stotz, and L. Rico. 2006. Distribution maps of the birds of Peru, version 1.0. Environment, Culture & Conservation (ECCo). The Field Museum.  http://fm2.fieldmuseum.org/uw_test/birdsofperu on 01/01/2015.