Sanderling

Adventure step • Meet the species

Overview

The Sanderling is a small, elegant shorebird that is one of the most lively inhabitants of ocean beaches. With its characteristic black bill, dark legs, and pearl-white underside in winter, it is easy to recognize as it rapidly runs after receding waves along sandy shores. During the breeding season in the Arctic, it exchanges its gray winter plumage for beautiful rust-red coloring on the breast and head. The Sanderling belongs to the sandpiper family and is unusual among its relatives in completely lacking a hind toe, meaning it has only three toes on each foot. This small, swift bird is a master at finding food in the surf zone. It follows waves in and out in a constant dance, quickly pecking for small crustaceans, worms, and other invertebrates exposed as the water recedes. The Sanderling can run at incredible speeds, up to 25 kilometers per hour, which is necessary to collect food before the next wave arrives. Its rapid movements and white underside make it appear almost to glide over the sand. The Sanderling breeds in the northernmost parts of the world, from arctic Canada and Greenland to northern Siberia. They build their nests directly on the ground in the barren tundra, often near waterways or on sandy surfaces. The female typically lays four eggs which she incubates for about 24 days. Interestingly, both parents incubate the eggs, but the female often abandons the family before the chicks hatch, leaving the male alone to care for the young. During autumn and spring, Sanderlings pass through the Nordic countries on their long migration between arctic breeding grounds and wintering areas that stretch from Western Europe down to southern Africa, South America, and Australia. This means that some individuals fly over 15,000 kilometers annually. In Sweden and other Nordic countries, they are seen mainly along coasts, where they rest and feed to build up energy reserves for their continued journey. Their global migration patterns make them some of the world's most well-traveled birds.