Stilt Sandpiper Calidris himantopus Scientific name definitions

The Stilt Sandpiper breeds exclusively in low-arctic and subarctic areas of North America and winters mainly in the interior of central South America. This medium-sized wader was once considered the unique extant representative of the genus Micropalama, which was characterized by having exceptionally long legs, partly webbed toes, and a long bill with an expanded tip (Baird et al. 1884 Baird, S. F., T. M. Brewer and R. Ridgway. (1884). The waterbirds of North America. Mem. Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard Univ. 13:1-549. Close ). However, none of these characters is unique; all are found in other members of the large genus Calidris, where this species is currently classified (Jehl 1973a Jehl, Jr., J. R. (1973a). Breeding biology and systematic relationships of the Stilt Sandpiper. Wilson Bulletin 85:115-147. Close , American Ornithologists' Union 1983 American Ornithologists' Union (1983) Check-list of North American Birds. Sixth edition. American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, DC, USA. Close ).

The Stilt Sandpiper's breeding behavior is that of a typical monogamous calidridine sandpiper. Ecologically, however, it differs from most congeners in that it avoids tidal mudflats in favor of pools or lagoons, where it forages in belly-deep water.

Although described as distinctive early in the nineteenth century (“it cannot even at first sight be mistaken for any other Tringa"; Bonaparte 1826 Bonaparte, C. L. (1826). Further additions to the ornithology of the United States; and observations on the nomenclature of certain species. Ann. Lyc. Nat. Hist. N.Y. 2:157. Close : 57), the Stilt Sandpiper remained largely unknown to ornithologists or even to gunners, who called it the Bastard Yellowlegs because of its suspected intermediacy, or perhaps hybrid origin, between dowitchers (Limnodromus spp.) and yellowlegs (Tringa spp.). Other 19th-century gunning names included Stilted Sandpiper, Mongrel, Long-legged Sandpiper, and Frost Snipe.

Despite having a broad, though probably interrupted, breeding distribution, which extends westward and northward from James Bay (55°N) nearly to Barrow, AK (71°N), the Stilt Sandpiper is not a common species. Accordingly, its breeding biology has been studied in detail at only a few localities: Churchill, Manitoba (Farley 1936 Farley, F. L. (1936). The Stilt Sandpiper on its nesting ground. Oologist 53:14-17. Close , Sutton 1961 Sutton, G. M. (1961). "Stilt Sandpiper." In The birds of the British Isles, edited by D. A. Bannerman, 340-346. London: Oliver and Boyd. Close , Jehl Jehl 1970b Jehl, Jr., J. R. (1970b). Sexual selection for size differences in two species of sandpipers. Evolution 24:311-319. Close , Jehl 1973a Jehl, Jr., J. R. (1973a). Breeding biology and systematic relationships of the Stilt Sandpiper. Wilson Bulletin 85:115-147. Close ); Victoria Island, Northwest Territories (Parmelee et al. 1967 Parmelee, D. F., H. A. Stephens, and R. H. Schmidt (1967). The birds of Southeastern Victoria Island and adjacent small islands. National Museum of Canada Bulletin 222. Close ); and Prudhoe Bay, AK (JK). Except for studies by Alexander and Gratto-Trevor (Alexander and Gratto-Trevor 1997 Alexander, S. A., and C. Gratto-Trevor (1997). Shorebird migration and staging at a large prairie lake and wetland complex: The Quill Lakes, Saskatchewan. Canadian Wildlife Service Occasional Papers no. 97. Environment Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Close ) in Saskatechewan and by S. Skagen (unpubl.) in the Great Plains, information on its biology during migration and in winter is sparse.

In spring, this sandpiper's main migration route brings it northward through northern-central South America, across the Great Plains and western Prairie Provinces, to arctic Canada and Alaska. Its fall migration has several pulses, beginning in early July with adult females, followed later by adult males, and finally by juveniles. Its main southward route also passes through mid-continent, west of the Mississippi River. Quill Lakes in Saskatchewan (Alexander and Gratto-Trevor 1997 Alexander, S. A., and C. Gratto-Trevor (1997). Shorebird migration and staging at a large prairie lake and wetland complex: The Quill Lakes, Saskatchewan. Canadian Wildlife Service Occasional Papers no. 97. Environment Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Close ) and Cheyenne Bottoms in Kansas (International Shorebird Surveys [ISS]) are major concentration points both in spring and in fall. From there, in fall the species migrates over water to the Caribbean (Cuba, Puerto Rico: Wunderle et al. 1989 Wunderle, Jr., J. M., R. B. Waide and J. Fernandez. (1989). Seasonal abundance of shorebirds in the Jobos Bay Estuary in southern Puerto Rico. Journal of Field Ornithology 60:329-339. Close , Collazo et al. 1995 Collazo, J. A., B. A. Harrington, J. S. Grear and J. A. Colon. (1995). Abundance and distribution of shorebirds at the Cabo Rojo Salt Flats, Puerto Rico. Journal of Field Ornithology 66 (3):424-438. Close ) or northern South America (Suriname: Spaans 1978a Spaans, A. L. (1978a). Status and numerical fluctuations of some North American waders along the Surinam coast. Wilson Bulletin 90:60-83. Close ), where many birds interrupt their migration to molt flight-feathers before continuing to winter haunts in inland central South America. Small numbers migrate in fall along the mid-Atlantic Coast from Long Island, NY, to Virginia.