Dunlin

Calidris alpina

The Dunlin (Calidris alpina) is a small shorebird with a distinctive long, drooping bill and a mottled brown and white plumage. During breeding season, it displays a rich reddish-brown color on its back. This species is known for its highly gregarious nature, often forming large flocks during migration. Dunlins are primarily found in coastal areas, including mudflats, estuaries, and sandy beaches, where they forage for invertebrates such as small crustaceans, mollusks, and insects. They are known for their rapid and erratic feeding behavior, probing the mud or sand with their bills. The Dunlin is a long-distance migrant, breeding in the Arctic and wintering in coastal areas across the world.

Habitat: Coastal mudflats, estuaries, sandy beaches