Thebroad-billed sandpiper (Calidris falcinellus) is a small,wadingbird. The scientific specific namefalcinellus is the diminutive fromLatinfalx, falcis, "a smallsickle".[2] It was formerly treated in its own monospecific genusLimicola,[3] but this was found to be embedded within the wider genusCalidris, into which it was transferred in 2004.[4]
Within the genusCalidris, the broad-billed sandpiper is most closely related to thesharp-tailed sandpiper (C. acuminata).[5]
Broad-billed sandpipers are small waders, 16–18 cm long, slightly smaller than thedunlin, but larger than thelittle stint; it has a longer, straighterbill with the tip distinctly kinked down, and shorter legs than dunlin. The breeding adult has dark brown upperparts patterned with narrow, pale feather fringes, and white underparts with blackish markings on the breast. It has a pale crown stripe, and a distinctive double (split) supercilium.[3][7][8] As its English name suggests, the bill is slightly broader than in most otherCalidris species, but this "museum" name characteristic is rarely evident in the field.[7] The two subspecies differ in the summer plumage feather fringing, narrow and white inC. f. falcinellus, brighter and rufous-toned inC. f. sibirica.[7]
The winter plumage is much paler and greyer above and white below, like a winter dunlin, but retains the distinct head pattern. Juveniles have backs similar to a young dunlin or little stint with pale "tramlines" down the mantle, but the white flanks and belly and brown-streaked breast are distinctive.[3][8]
The contact call is a dry, whistlingdree-it, dree-it and a clickingdik dik, similar to the little stint.[3]
The broad-billed sandpiper is stronglymigratory, spending the non-breeding season from easternmost Africa, through south and south-east Asia to Australasia. It is gregarious, and forms flocks with other scolopacid waders, particularly dunlins. Despite its European breeding range, this species is rare on passage in western Europe, due to its south-easterlymigration route.[3]
This bird's breeding habitat is wettaiga bogs in Arctic northernScandinavia andSiberia, in two disjunct regions, representing the two subspecies. The male performs an aerial display during courtship. The pairs nest in a ground scrape, laying foureggs.
They forage in soft mud on marshes in the summer and on coasts in winter, mainly picking up food by sight. They mostly eatinsects and other small invertebrates.
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