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Broad-billed Sandpiper

Limicola falcinellus

Conservation Status

Listed as Vulnerable in New South Wales under the Threatened Species Conservation Act.

What does it look like?

It is a small, short-necked, stint-like wader with short legs. Individuals have a diagnostic long, straight, black bill, which is flattened and kinked downwards at the tip. The wing-tips project a short distance beyond the tip of the tail at rest. The breeding plumage is like those of snipes and non-breeding plumage is like those of stints. In Australia, the species is sighted in its non-breeding plumage. The centre of the forehead, crown, nape, hindneck and sides of the neck are pale grey-brown, finely streaked black. The underbody is mostly white and the foreneck and breast are pale grey-brown with a fine dark streaking. Head feathers are in a snipe-like pattern with two light stripes above the eyes and a median stripe.

Where does it live?

There are two recognised sub-species of the Broad-billed Sandpiper. The subspecies falcinellus breeds in montane and lowland bogs in Scandinavia and the north-western Soviet Union, migrating to the coasts of Africa, the Middle East and western India. The subspecies sibirica breeds in north and north-east Soviet Union. In Australia, the Broad-billed Sandpiper is distributed over the northern coasts, particularly the north-west, with occasional birds seen on the southern coasts, and very few inland. In NSW, the main site for the species is the Hunter estuary with records along the coast south to the Shoalhaven estuary.

What does it eat?

It feeds by rapidly and repeatedly jabbing its bill into soft wet mud. Feeding also occurs whilst wading, often so deep that they have to submerge their heads and necks when probing the underlying mud. The species has been observed feeding on insects, crustaceans, worms, molluscs and seeds.

What is their life cycle?

Individuals are strongly migratory and only mildly gregarious when not breeding. Large flocks are seldom recorded and birds are often encountered alone. Breeding occurs in the Northern Hemisphere between June and August. The male builds several nests with one being selected by the female and both parents share incubation and care of the single brood.

Updated: 27 Jun 2011