Pectoral Sandpiper

Scientific Name: Calidris melanotos
Malay Name: Kedidi Dada Hitam
Chinese Name: 斑胸滨鹬

Range:
A long-distance migrant breeding across far northern Russia and wintering in southern Australia and South America; recorded as a vagrant in southeast Asia.

Taxonomy:
Monotypic.

Size: 19-23 cm

Identification:
A medium-sized sandpiper, recalls Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, but differs from that species by sharply-demarcated white belly (clearly contrasting with brown patterning on breast), clean flanks, colder (less red) tones on crown, more distinct white supercilium, and usually pale-based bill. From the much smaller Long-toed Stint, told by stockier and taller appearance, and thicker bill. Wood Sandpiper is thinner-billed and slimmer.

Similar looking species: Wood Sandpiper, Long-toed Stint, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper

Habitat: Primarily occupies flooded grasslands, freshwater wetlands, and marshes.

Behaviour/Ecology: Walks slowly and leisurely while feeding, unlike most smaller waders.

Local Status: Very rare vagrant

Conservation Status: Least Concern (BirdLife International 2016)

Past accepted records in our database:

Migrant bar chart (see more bar charts):

Adult non breeding Pectoral Sandpiper at Yataity Calle, Corrientes Province, Argentina. Photo Credit: Eric Tan

Adult female breeding Pectoral Sandpiper at Zaliv Kuetkuyym, Kolyuchinskaya Guba, Chukotka, Russia. Photo Credit: Eric Tan