Spotted sandpiper facts for kids
The spotted sandpiper (Actitis macularius) is a small bird that belongs to the Actitis group. These birds are known for their unique way of walking and their spotted feathers during the breeding season.
Quick facts for kids Spotted sandpiper |
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Tringa macularia Linnaeus, 1766 |
Contents
What They Look Like
Spotted sandpipers are small birds, usually about 18 to 20 centimeters (7 to 7.9 inches) long. They weigh between 34 and 50 grams (1.2 to 1.8 ounces). Their wings can spread out to about 37 to 40 centimeters (14.6 to 15.8 inches) wide.
Adult sandpipers have short, yellowish legs and an orange beak with a dark tip. Their bodies are brown on top and white underneath. During the breeding season, they get cool black spots all over their white undersides!
Where They Live
These birds like to build their nests near fresh water. You can find them breeding across most of Canada and the United States. When winter comes, they fly south to warmer places like the southern United States, the Caribbean, and South America. It's very rare to see them in western Europe.
What They Eat
Spotted sandpipers love to eat small creatures! Their diet includes insects, crustaceans (like tiny crabs or shrimp), and other invertebrates (animals without backbones). They often forage along the water's edge, bobbing their tails up and down.
Life Cycle and Reproduction
Spotted sandpipers build their nests right on the ground. What's really interesting about these birds is how they raise their families! During the breeding season, a female sandpiper might mate with more than one male. She then lays her eggs and often leaves the male to incubate (sit on and warm) the eggs until they hatch. This special behavior, where one female mates with multiple males, is called polyandry.
Images for kids
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Eggs, Collection Museum Wiesbaden
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Front view
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Non-breeding plumage
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Spotted Sandpiper hunting in the Wallkill River Wildlife Refuge in New Jersey and New York (state)
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Spotted Sandpiper foraging in Fox River Grove, Illinois
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See also
In Spanish: Andarríos maculado para niños
