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Sanderling
Calidris alba
Conservation Status
Listed as Vulnerable under the New South Wales Threatened Species Conservation Act.
What does it look like?
The non-breeding adult Sanderling is pale grey above and white below with a black patch at the angle of the wing and a short, straight, black bill. The whitish sandpiper has blackish-brown wings with broad, white wing-stripes. The forehead and eyebrows are white and the rump and tail have a brown centre and white sides.
Where does it live?
In the non-breeding season, these small, rather thickset waders usually occur in coastal areas on low beaches of firm sand, near reefs and inlets, along tidal mudflats and bare open coastal lagoons. It prefers open sandy beaches exposed to open sea-swell, exposed sandbars and spits.
What does it eat?
The Sanderling forages along sandy beaches and exposed sandbars at the edge of the water in wave-washed zone and sometimes among heaps of rotting kelp. Individuals dart after insects, larvae and other small invertebrates (e.g. worms) in the sand as waves ebb. They also feed on plants, seeds, worms, crustaceans, spiders, insects, jellyfish and fish. Larger molluscs and crustaceans are also taken as carrion.
What are the threats?
- Hydrological changes to estuaries and similar waterbodies may modify or remove important areas of suitable habitat.
- Tourism or agricultural developments reducing coastal and inland habitat areas.
Updated: 21 Jun 2011
Related Links
- Sanderling - DEC - NSW Threatened Species Profile