Solitary Sandpiper
Tringa solitaria
Silhouette: Andy Wilson · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderCharadriiformes (Shorebirds and Allies)
- FamilyScolopacidae (Sandpipers and Allies)
- GenusTringa (Shanks, Tattlers, and Allies)
- SpeciesTringa solitaria (Solitary Sandpiper)
About the Solitary Sandpiper
The solitary sandpiper (Tringa solitaria) is a small shorebird. The genus name Tringa is the Neo-Latin name given to the green sandpiper by Aldrovandus in 1599 based on Ancient Greek trungas, a thrush-sized, white-rumped, tail-bobbing wading bird mentioned by Aristotle. The specific solitaria is Latin for "solitary" from solus, "alone".
This species measures 18–23 cm (7.1–9.1 in) long, with a wingspan up to 50 cm (20 in) and a body mass of 31–65 g (1.1–2.3 oz). It is a dumpy wader with a dark green back, greyish head and breast and otherwise white underparts. It is obvious in flight, with wings dark above and below, and a dark rump and tail centre. The latter feature distinguishes it from the slightly larger and broader-winged, but otherwise very similar, green sandpiper (T. ochropus) of Europe and Asia, to which it is closely related. The latter species has a brilliant white rump. In flight, the solitary sandpiper has a characteristic three-note whistle. They both have brown wings with little light dots, and a delicate but contrasting neck and chest pattern. In addition, both species nest in trees, unlike most other scolopacids.
It breeds... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Solitary Sandpiper in Main Ridge Forest Reserve
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Main Ridge Forest Reserve
Greater Yellowlegs
Tringa melanoleuca
Sanderling
Calidris alba
Spotted Sandpiper
Actitis macularius
Ruddy Turnstone
Arenaria interpres
Wilson's Snipe
Gallinago delicata
Southern Lapwing
Vanellus chilensis
Common Tern
Sterna hirundo
Laughing Gull
Leucophaeus atricilla
Black-headed Gull
Chroicocephalus ridibundus
Sandwich Tern
Thalasseus sandvicensis
Royal Tern
Thalasseus maximus
Semipalmated Plover
Charadrius semipalmatus
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.