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Dunlin Calidris alpina [Linnaeus, 1758]
Other Names
Trends & Distribution
Breeding & Survival
Biometrics
Books & Links
Order:
Charadriiformes
Family:
Scolopacidae
BTO Codes:
DN , DUNLI
EURING No:
5120
Number in Britain:
9500 pairs (Summer)
Conservation Status:
UK:
AMBER
European:
3 Concern, most not in Europe; Depleted
Global:
Least Concern
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IBC
Status in UK:
(A) Migrant Breeder, Passage/Winter Visitor
Subspecies:
schinzii (BW), alpina (W), arctica (P) recorded in Britain (of 10 subsp. in the world)
.
Length:
18 cm
Wingspan:
40 cm
Weight:
M/F: 48 g
Scientific name from:
Gr.: kalidris =grey waterside bird described by Aristotle
and L.: alpinus =alpine (from Alpes =the Alps)
World Distribution:
BREEDS: c&n Europe, Siberia & n North America, WINTERS: south to s Asia, Africa & Mexico
Habitat:
Tundra, moor, heath, on migration estuaries & coasts
Diet:
Invertebrates, located by sight and touch
TitBit:
Three races occur in Britain, one of which schinzii breed here, but winter in west Africa; alpina birds from western Siberia winter here, whilst small numbers of Greenland breeders (arctica ) pass through in autumn, also on their way to
Africa
Population and Distribution
Population Trend:
No population trend available
Distribution:
New Atlas )
British Population Size:
Summer:
9150 to 9900 pairs
in 1981-84
Note: Best estimate
Winter:
556 thousand individuals
in 1994-99
First Record:
1531
[Fossil evidence from
Ipswichian (last) interglacial, c. 125,000 yr ago]
Habitat Occupancy (in the Breeding Season):
No habitat data from BBS
European Population Size:
Summer:
285 to 440 thousand pairs
Birds in Europe
Listed on the Appendices/Schedules of:
WBD(I*), Bern(III), Bonn(II), AEWA
Survey Results:
Breeding and Survival
Egg Size:
35 x 24 mm
Egg Weight:
10.2 g (of which 5 % is shell)
Number of Nest Records:
7
Clutch Size:
4 eggs
3.71 ± 0.55 (2 - 4) N = 111
Incubation:
21 - 22 days
by the:
Male + Female
Fledging:
19 - 21 days
as:
Precocial, downy
First Clutches Laid:
Unavailable
Number of Broods:
1(2)
Number Ringed:
6012
Adult Survival:
0.741
Juvenile Survival:
No data
Age at First Breeding:
2
years
Typical Lifespan:
5
years
Maximum Recorded Age:
16yr8m
(Denmark: 28yr 1m)
Biometrics
Ring Size:
B2
Wing Length
Adult:
119.2 ± 3.7
Range
113 - 125 mm, N =10154
Juvenile:
119.0 ± 3.8
113 - 125 mm, N =8049
Male:
112.2 ± 3.0
108 - 118 mm, N =164
Female:
115.6 ± 2.9
110 - 120 mm, N =138
Weight
Adult:
50.01 ± 4.95
Range
42.00 - 58.00 g , N =9759
Juvenile:
49.33 ± 6.04
39.00 - 59.00 g , N =7451
Male:
47.25 ± 5.86
39.00 - 57.00 g , N =160
Female:
51.20 ± 6.16 .
41.60 - 62.00 g , N =137
Source:
British Trust for Ornithology (2005) Ringing Scheme data
Other Names
Gaelic:
Gille-feadaig
Welsh:
Pibydd y Mawn
Danish:
Almindelig ryle
Dutch:
Bonte strandloper
Finnish:
Suosirri
French:
Bécasseau variable
German:
Alpenstrandläufer
Hungarian:
Havasi partfutó
Icelandic:
Lóuþræll
Irish:
Breacóg
Italian:
Piovanello pancianera
Norwegian:
Myrsnipe
Polish:
Biegus zmienny
Portuguese:
Pilrito-comum
Spanish:
Correlimos común
Swedish:
Kärrsnäppa
Local Names: Plover's Page, Tang Snipe
For More Information...
Books and Monographs:
Nethersole-Thompson, D. & M. 1986 Waders, their breeding, haunts and watchers Poyser, London
[598.6 NET]
See Also:
All About Birds (Cornell Lab of Ornithology)
Gough, G.A. et al. (1998) Patuxent Bird Identification Infocenter
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