Dunlin [Calidris alpina]
Description
The Dunlin, Calidris alpina, is a small wader bird. They have a distinctive black belly patch in breeding plumage. Dunlins are migratory birds breeding in the Arctic regions and migrating south in winter. They inhabit coastal and inshore areas, including mudflats, beaches, and marshes. They feed on insects, worms, mollusks, and crustaceans. The Dunlin is recognized by its long, slightly drooping bill and energetic foraging behaviour, typically in large flocks.
Taxonomy
| Phylum |
Chordates
Chordata
|
|---|---|
| Class |
Birds
Aves
|
| Order |
Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers
Charadriiformes
|
| Family |
Sandpipers and Allies
Scolopacidae
|
| Genus |
Dunlin
Limnodromus
|