Sanderling

Widespread coastal migrant and non-breeding visitor in small numbers.

A chunky, stint-like shorebird with black legs, large head and no hind toes. Often the only Calidrid present on sandy beaches. In flight, from above, broad white mid-wingbar and dark leading edge to wing, dark central rump and tail and pale grey outer tail. Underwing coverts white. Ad B: (Apr – Aug) Whole head and breast chestnut, heavily streaked and mottled black. Belly, flanks and vent white. Mantle and scapulars have black centres, chestnut bases, and frosty white edges in fresh plumage. Wing coverts and tertials a mix of dull brown-centred, paler-edged feathers and black-centred, chestnut and white-edged feathers. In Aug-Sep, birds in worn B plumage can look blackish above. Ad Nb: (Sep – Feb) Strikingly pale. White forehead, lower ear coverts and supercilium, rear crown, nape and upper ear coverts pale grey, lightly streaked. Underparts, other than light streaking on sides of breast, white. Upperparts pale grey with dark shaft streaks and white edges, except for flight feathers and leading edge of wing, which may appear as a dark ‘shoulder’ when not obscured by scapulars. Juv: (Aug-Sep) Head white, with lores, rear ear coverts, crown streaked blackish, and nape lightly streaked. Sides of breast have blackish streaks (sometimes with cream wash); rest of underparts white. Mantle and scapulars blackish with white notches; wing coverts and tertials grey with blackish arrowheads and white edges. After preformative moult, young birds can be aged by pattern of retained juvenile wing coverts.

Flocks in flight along the coast, could be mistaken for Red Phalarope or Red-necked Phalarope, but lacks dark mask. Stint-like in shape, but significantly larger, with larger head and chunkier, longer bill; lacks hind toe. Single birds in roosting flocks of shorebirds could be confused with Spoon-billed Sandpiper due to whiteness of head (if bill is not visible).

Forages by running along the tideline, often in small flocks, occasionally stopping to probe deeply and vigorously for crabs and bivalves. Characteristically moves head back and forward while walking or running.

One of the few shorebirds which are more numerous on the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia than the west coast, due to their preference for sandy over muddy substrates. The beaches of Bornean Malaysia probably hold the highest numbers, but singles can occur anywhere along the coast, and rarely, inland.

Most frequently seen from September to mid-May.