Rock Sandpiper

Overview

Rock Sandpiper: Medium sandpiper, scaled gray-brown and reddish-brown upperparts, dark crown, heavily streaked white underparts with dark breast patch. Dark bill is slightly decurved. Wings have large white stripes visible in flight. Tail has dark central stripe above and is white below. Black legs.

Range and Habitat

Rock Sandpiper: Breeds along coast of western Alaska, winters on coast south to Northern and Central California. Nests on tundra; winters on rocky shores, often with Black Turnstones and Surfbirds.

INTERESTING FACTS

The breeding pair is usually monogamous, with pair bonds usually lasting several years.
Unlike their counterparts, Rock Sandpipers do not chip or pry attached prey from its substrate.
A group of sandpipers has many collective nouns, including a "bind", "contradiction", "fling", "hill", and "time-step" of sandpipers.

The Rock Sandpiper is a small bird which breeds in tundra habitats. Its range includes the Arctic Pacific coast of Alaska, the Aleutian and Pribilof Islands, Kamchatka and the Kuril Islands. These birds are typically monogamous and stay with their mate for several years. Nests are built on the ground on rocks or in low, damp areas. Males create several scrapes, and the female chooses one to lay the eggs in. During winter months, this species may form large flocks, and flies to Pacific coastlines. This bird forages for food on rocky coasts, eating insects, mollusks, worms and vegetation. The conservation rating for this species is Least Concern.