E-mail to a friendE-newsletterContact us
HomeAbout usAdviceBirdsJoinOur workReservesSupport usShopThings to do
  • Overview
  • Awards & recognition
  • Contact us
  • Facts and figures
  • History
  • How we are run
  • Inspiring work
  • Job vacancies
  • Looking to the future
  • Media centre
  • Offices
  • The RSPB view
  • What we do
  • Overview
  • Farming
  • Gardening
  • Green living
  • Helping birds
  • Land management
  • Law
  • Watching birds
  • Overview
  • Aren't birds brilliant!
  • Birds by name
  • Birds by family
  • Bird identifier
  • Features
  • Reserves
  • Webcams
  • Wildlife garden guide
  • Overview
  • Campaigns
  • Corporate membership
  • Credit card
  • Donations
  • Fundraising
  • Gift Aid
  • Shop
  • Green energy
  • Holidays in the UK
  • Join the RSPB
  • Leave a legacy
  • Recycle your mobile phone
  • Share giving
  • Vehicle breakdown cover
  • Overview
  • Join now
  • Why join?
  • Membership as a gift
  • Membership benefits
  • Renewals
  • Other ways to support us
  • Overview
  • Great days out
  • By habitat
  • By name
  • By location
  • Recent sightings
  • Shops on reserves
  • Overview
  • Around the UK
  • Conservation
  • Document library
  • Farming
  • International
  • Job vacancies
  • News
  • Media centre
  • Policy
  • Reserves
  • Science
  • Teaching
  • Shop homepage
  • Binoculars
  • Bird care
  • Books and DVDs
  • Calendars & diaries
  • Christmas
  • Homeware
  • Toys
  • Virtual gifts
  • Wildlife care
  • Overview
  • For kids
  • Near you
  • Events
  • E-newsletter
  • Fundraising
  • Local groups
  • Reserves
  • Surveys
  • Volunteering
  • Webcams
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
Winter-plumaged sanderling running along beach RSPB Loch of Strathbeg reserve, views of beach Flock of sanderlings sleeping on beach
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
Sanderling

Green conservation status

Sound files

Listen

Sound clips and movies require Adobe Flash player.

Latin name

Calidris alba

Family

Sandpipers and allies (Scolopacidae)

Overview

The sanderling is a small, plump, energetic wading bird. It has a short straight black bill and medium length black legs. It is pale grey above and white underneath, and there is a black mark at its shoulder where the folded wing meets the body. It does not breed in the UK, but is a winter visitor and passage migrant in spring and autumn, journeying to and from their high Arctic breeding grounds.

Where to see them

Best looked for where there are long, sandy beaches, around most of the coast other than in the south-west and the rocky coasts of mainland Scotland.

When to see them

All year round.

What they eat

Small marine worms, crustaceans and molluscs

Estimated numbers

EuropeUK breeding*UK wintering*UK passage*
--20,700 individuals-

* UK breeding is the number of pairs breeding annually. UK wintering is the number of individuals present from October to March. UK passage is the number of individuals passing through on migration in spring and/or autumn.

Distribution

Key

Please note that the map is only intended as a guide. It shows general distribution rather than detailed, localised populations.

Audio is from commercial recordings Bird Songs and Calls of Britain and Europe on 4 CDs or Bird Sounds of Europe & North-west Africa, copyright WildSounds & CEBA (www.wildsounds.com, (UK) +44 (0) 1263 741100)

Print this page

2 illustrations

12

Illustrations
Sanderling winter

Winter

Sanderling summer

Summer

Similar birds

Dunlin in summer plumage (illustration)

Dunlin

Knot in winter plumage (illustration)

Knot

Help the Sanderling

The RSPB is working for a better environment for birds and people. Join today and add your voice.

About the RSPB

The RSPB speaks out for birds and wildlife, tackling the problems that threaten our environment. We rely upon memberships and donations to fund our work. Nature is amazing - help us keep it that way. More...

Contact us

Visit our Contact us section for telephone numbers, office addresses and more.

Latest news

Ups and downs for UK's waterbirds

The winter arrival of millions of ducks, geese, swans and wading birds is one of our greatest spectacles, but a new report shows the numbers of some birds are ebbing away.

RSPB urges swift action to restore threatened farmland birds

The government has revealed the populations of some of our most-cherished countryside birds fell last year to their lowest levels in the UK and England since 1970.

Poisoning of white-tailed eagle condemned

The RSPB has today condemned the illegal killing of a white-tailed eagle found poisoned on an estate in Tayside.

More news...

Add your voice for nature

As a charity, we rely on the support of members to continue our work protecting birds and wildlife.

Join now from only £2.84/month.

Free e-newsletter

Over 200,000 people enjoy our monthly e-mail newsletter.

Why not sign up?

Contact us
© 2008 The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. Charity registered in England and Wales no 207076, in Scotland no SC037654
Privacy policy
Last published: 14/06/2008 01:59:45
Show/hide picture credits
Winter-plumaged sanderling running along wet beach - Nigel Blake
RSPB Loch of Strathbeg reserve, views of beach - Andy Hay (rspb-images.com, Ref: 2004_7292_009 )
Flock of sanderlings sleeping on beach - Steve Round
Bird illustrations by Mike Langman (RSPB)