Bird species profile
Pectoral Sandpiper
Calidris melanotos
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Family
- Scolopacidae
About the species
The Pectoral Sandpiper is a medium-sized shorebird recognized by its sharp demarcation between streaked breast and white belly, giving it a 'pectoral' appearance. During the austral summer, it is a regular migrant visitor to Patagonian wetlands, mudflats, and flooded grasslands. Its plumage is mostly brown and streaked above, with yellowish legs and a slightly drooping bill. This species is highly migratory, covering thousands of kilometers between its Arctic breeding grounds and South American wintering sites. In Patagonia, it is often seen in small flocks, probing the soft mud for food. The Pectoral Sandpiper is admired for its endurance and adaptability, thriving in a variety of wetland habitats during its non-breeding season.
Habitat
Prefers shallow freshwater marshes, flooded meadows, and muddy lake edges throughout Patagonian lowlands.
Foraging
Feeds by probing mud and shallow water for insects, worms, and small crustaceans.
