Buff-breasted Sandpiper

The Buff-breasted Sandpiper is a small shorebird that isn’t conventional like waders. Unlike most other waders, they prefer dry upland areas. The habitats they choose during winter and migration are also a subject of interest. Their use of agricultural lands is particularly interesting because it indicates that these birds are comfortable living around humans. Although this adaptation might be good for their numbers in the long run, it also exposes them to several harmful chemicals which are present on agricultural sites. These chemicals are sure to present several health risks.

About Buff-breasted Sandpipers

Buff-breasted Sandpipers seem to have many characteristics which are unlike most other shorebirds. Another such characteristic is their lek mating system. This lekking system includes large areas with males spread out over small territories. These territories are devoid of resources for females, instead, they only serve as display areas.

Unlike behavior seen in most other bird species who have communal breeding displays, female Buff-breasted Sandpipers are not particularly attracted only to dominant males. They are also known to choose solitary individuals which are not part of a specific group. Once the males and females copulate, the female leaves the lek to find a suitable nesting site.

Before the 1800s, this species was very abundantly found, but now it is marked near threaded by the IUCN. This substantial decline in their populations is a result of unregulated hunting practices and loss of habitat along their migratory route. Perhaps, this is why these birds are slowly adapting to habitats in close vicinity to humans.

Although many such factors have affected the populations of these birds, hunting still remains the most significant factor. This is because Buff-breasted Sandpipers are especially tame birds, which also have a tendency to approach wounded flock members of their species. As these birds took a liking for agricultural habitats during the late 1900s,
they have been exposed to many harmful chemicals which are also affecting their numbers. The populations of Buff-breasted Sandpipers are soon going to be a cause of great concern because their breeding baits in the coastal Arctic are undergoing severe climate changes. This presents a humungous risk to their future. There isn’t enough information available to know if their numbers are currently stable or declining, but a rapid decline in the future can be foreseen.

● Buff-breasted Sandpipers Photos, Color Pattern, Song
● Buff-breasted Sandpipers Size, Eating behavior, Habitat
● Buff-breasted Sandpipers Range and Migration, Nesting

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Buff-breasted Sandpiper Color Pattern

Buff-breasted Sandpipers have buff coloration on their face and underparts in all their plumages. They also have a dark bill and bright yellow legs. During the flight, their buff upper wings and their white underwing axillaries and buff flanks can be observed. Their belly is also buff.

Bar tips are present on underwing primary coverts and also at the upper wings. Males and females are similarly colored. Juveniles are similar in appearance, but the slight differences in color make the plumage of juveniles look scaly. Only slight variation can be observed between Buff-breasted Sandpipers found in different geographical regions.

Description and Identification

Buff-breasted Sandpipers are similar in appearance to a few other bird species such as juvenile Ruffs, Upland Sandpipers, Baird’s Sandpipers, and Eurasian Dotterels. They are significantly smaller than juvenile Ruffs. Other physical characteristics that distinguish Juvenile Ruffs from Buff-breasted Sandpipers include their white-wing bars,
dull legs, and the white edges on their rump.

Physical features of Baird’s Sandpipers that differentiate them from Buff-breasted Sandpipers are their buff-colored breasts, white abdomens, and black legs. Upland Sandpipers can be easily distinguished based on their larger size, and longer tail and neck. Their plumage is similar, but the rest of the physical differences are enough to differentiate these two species.

Buff-breasted Sandpipers are generally very quiet. Considering their tame nature, it shouldn’t be a surprise to learn that Buff-breasted Sandpipers are quiet birds. One of the most common sounds heard from them is a series of tick notes. This sounds almost like two stones hitting each other. These tick notes are usually made by males on their breeding grounds. Males produce these same sounds less frequently while migrating.

Although the series of ticks have the musical characteristics of a call, their purpose is more so like a song. This is because this note is made exclusively by males during courtship. These tick notes are not like common calls made by other Sandpipers. These notes can only be heard over a short distance.

A “churh” call is also made by males when any female Buff-breasted Sandpiper flies over display areas. It is also made when a visiting female leaves this area. This call is also common during migration in certain populations of Buff-breasted Sandpipers.

Although female Buff-breasted Sandpipers don’t have a very wide vocal repertoire, some of their calls serve very important functions. They make quiet “chook” and “chup” calls while defending their nests, and while raising broods. Females also produce ground alarm calls when they are separated from their brood, or while circling around their nests. All female vocalizations are related to nesting. When hatchlings are alarmed, they produce a sequence of sharp notes. The calls of juveniles differ vastly from the calls of adult Buff-breasted Sandpipers.

Buff-breasted Sandpiper Song

The tick notes which are often considered to be the song for Buff-breasted Sandpipers are made from courtship, until the period the female begins nest construction. These notes are common throughout the day, and during sunlit nights in the Arctic. When alone, males lift both their wings and produce these notes while standing at the boundary of their territory. Tick notes are mostly made in the tundra, somewhere around the center of the display territory, areas which are primarily copulation sites. The only period in which females are not the cause of the tick notes made by males is during spring migration. It is unclear what purpose they serve during this time.

Buff-breasted Sandpiper Size

Buff-breasted Sandpipers are small shorebirds. They are 7.5-8.9 inches long, with an average wingspan of 18 inches. They approximately weigh around 2.2 ounces.

Buff-breasted Sandpiper Behavior

Buff-breasted Sandpipers are ground foragers. Males begin their courtship displays as soon as they reach their breeding grounds. During this time, many males come together and form a group that consists of a maximum of 20 males. This group is commonly known as an exploded “lek”. Not all males remain in the same lek for the entirety of the
courtship period. Some males might alternate different leks, while some are faithful to only one. In rare cases, some males travel hundreds of miles to reach a different “lek”.

Buff-breasted Sandpipers perform unique displays which can include up to 17 postures and behaviors. These displays are not commonly performed by other shorebirds. The most common display involves males crouching and raising one wing and their tail, then they wave this wing slowly to impress females by displaying their bright white undersurface.

Fluttering wings after leaping in the air is also common. When a male Buff-breasted Sandpiper has successfully gained the attention of a female, he opens both his wings, raises them, puffs out his breast, and also raises his bill and head. Then he stands on his tip-toes and moves forward while moving his wings up and down. If the female is interested, she raises her wing and turns her back towards the male.

“Leks” are chaotic places because males are constantly trying to disrupt the displays of other males. Some males are also known to mimic females, and many times males can be seen attempting to mate with other males. The only time males leave the leks during breeding season is when they are foraging in their feeding territories. Males in breeding territory roost regularly in the morning, especially in the absence of females. In contrast, during spring migration birds usually roost at night.

Unlike most other bird species, Buff-breasted Sandpipers do not form pair bonds. Once copulation is completed, females leave the lek to form a nest in a different region. Females elect this site, build the nest, and raise young without any contribution from the male. After breeding season, Buff-breasted Sandpipers gather in flocks during migration. Once they reach their wintering grounds, they locate suitable feeding territories. Male displays can also be seen on the wintering grounds.

Male Buff-breasted Sandpipers defend their breeding territories by performing aerial displays, chasing, and fighting. Calls are not as commonly used as means of protection by males. Fights between males can go on for 10 minutes with some breaks in the middle. If the fights are in mid-air, the birds eventually fly off into different directions.

There seems to be no hierarchy between male Buff-breasted Sandpipers which are part of a specific “lek”. Also, almost 1/4th Buff-breasted Sandpipers are not part of a lek. They perform their displays at solitary sites.

It is possible that some Buff-breasted Sandpipers might be forming pair bonds. The mating system of Buff-breasted Sandpipers needs further study, especially variation in the mating system according to geographical range needs to be examined.

Buff-breasted Sandpiper Diet

Buff-breasted Sandpipers mainly consume earthworms, isopods, snails, insects, and spiders. Their manner of consuming insects is similar to the foraging behavior of plovers. They walk along the ground, stop suddenly, intently listen for prey, and quickly grab them with their short bills.

They do not probe the soil for prey like other sandpipers, instead, they might pick at worms in the earth that are already partially exposed. Insects consumed by Buff-breasted Sandpipers include larvae, ants, midges, craneflies, moths, crickets, grasshoppers, and midges. Seeds of plants such as spike rushes, knotweeds, and pondweeds are also consumed.

Buff-breasted Sandpiper Habitat

Buff-breasted Sandpipers have very specific habitat requirements in their breeding range. They exclusively nest in the High Arctic of the northern tip of Canada and Alaska. Display areas of males are situated along ridges, banks, and bluffs. These areas are close to rivers and creeks, and they are usually slightly raised. Common plants in these areas are cottongrass, horsetails, dwarf willows, and water sedges.

Other species which are found in this kind of habitat are Baird’s Sandpipers and American Golden-Plovers. These three species are often part of the same flock while migrating.

Range and Migration

Buff-breasted Sandpipers exclusively nest in the High Arctic of the northern tip of Canada and Alaska. Their winter range is in southern South America. They are migratory birds that travel in mixed flocks.

Buff-breasted Sandpiper Lifecycle

Buff-breasted Sandpipers do not form pair bonds. Both males and females arrive on the breeding grounds at the same time. Within a week after reaching the breeding areas, most males become a part of exploded leks. In no time, males command massive breeding territories.

Each female Buff-breasted Sandpiper copulates with around 3 males to fertilize her 4 egg clutch. She can either do this by visiting several males on a single lek, or by visiting several different “leks”. Females single-handedly raise the brood.

Nesting

Female Buff-breasted sandpipers select a suitable nesting site on the ground. It is generally placed in dry, well-drained areas in the tundra habitats. Females choose a site that has a cover of vegetation and initiate nest construction by making a scrape on the ground. This nest is then lined with moss, sedges, lichen, and leaves. On average, nests are 1.8 inches deep, and they have a diameter of approximately 3.6 inches.

Anatomy of a Buff-breasted Sandpiper

Buff-breasted Sandpipers are small shorebirds with short, fine bills.

Final Thoughts

Buff-breasted Sandpipers are truly unique birds. A majority of their characteristics are unlike most other waders, and their mating system is truly fascinating! It would be really interesting to read any further research that is done on the mating system of these birds.

Ornithology

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Bird Watching Binoculars for Identifying Buff-breasted Sandpipers

The most common types of bird watching binoculars for viewing Buff-breasted Sandpipers are 8×21 binoculars and 10×42 binoculars. Bird Watching Academy & Camp sells really nice 8×21 binoculars and 10×42 binoculars. You can view and purchase them here.

Buff-breasted Sandpiper Stickers

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Bird Feeders For Buff-breasted Sandpipers

There are many types of bird feeders. Bird feeders are a great addition to your backyard. Bird feeders will increase the chances of attracting birds drastically. Both kids and adults will have a great time watching birds eat at these bird feeders. There are a wide variety of bird feeders on the market and it is important to find the best fit for you and your backyard.

Bird Houses For Buff-breasted Sandpipers

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