Pectoral Sandpiper
Calidris melanotos
Silhouette: Edwin Price · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderCharadriiformes (Shorebirds and Allies)
- FamilyScolopacidae (Sandpipers and Allies)
- GenusCalidris (Calidris Sandpipers)
- SpeciesCalidris melanotos (Pectoral Sandpiper)
About the Pectoral Sandpiper
The pectoral sandpiper (Calidris melanotos), often abbreviated pec, is a small, migratory wader that breeds in arctic regions of North America and Asia, wintering in South America and Oceania. It eats small invertebrates. Its nest, a hole scraped in the ground and with a thick lining, is deep enough to protect its four eggs from the cool breezes of its breeding grounds. The pectoral sandpiper is 19–23 cm (7.5–9.1 in) long, with a wingspan of 38–46 cm (15–18 in).
In the past widely seen as most closely related to sharp-tailed sandpiper, more recent genetic evidence has shown more complex relationships between the species of Calidris, with its closest genetic relatives probably the semipalmated sandpiper and western sandpiper species pair.
Cox's sandpiper, originally described as a new species Calidris paramelanotos, has proven to be a stereotyped hybrid between this species and the curlew sandpiper. This does not prove a particularly close relationship between these two species, as far more distantly related waders have produced hybrids.
The scientific name is from Ancient Greek. The genus name kalidris or skalidris, is a term used by Aristotle for some... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Pectoral Sandpiper in Point Pelee National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Point Pelee National Park
Dunlin
Calidris alpina
Sanderling
Calidris alba
Least Sandpiper
Calidris minutilla
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Calidris pusilla
White-rumped Sandpiper
Calidris fuscicollis
Red Knot
Calidris canutus
Baird's Sandpiper
Calidris bairdii
Stilt Sandpiper
Calidris himantopus
Purple Sandpiper
Calidris maritima
Western Sandpiper
Calidris mauri
Buff-breasted Sandpiper
Calidris subruficollis
Spotted Sandpiper
Actitis macularius
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Pectoral Sandpiper in Point Pelee National Park?
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Pectoral Sandpiper sighting in Point Pelee National Park, based on 101 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Pectoral Sandpiper in Point Pelee National Park?
October has the highest sighting rate for Pectoral Sandpiper in Point Pelee National Park in our monthly data.