Common Sandpiper takes an insect

Posted by BESG on 18 November 09, Wednesday
Contributed by Mike Tan

The images of the Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos) by Mike Tan a.k.a. woof was taken in early November 2009. The image above shows the bird standing in shallow water picking an insect from the surface. It then proceeds to bash the insect into submission against the water as shown in the image below before swallowing it.

According to Wells (1999), the Common Sandpiper mainly takes crabs. Gils & Wiersma (1996) lists insects and their larvae, spiders, mollusks, crustaceans and annelid worms; sometimes it also takes frogs, tadpoles, small fish and occasionally plant materials. Occasionally it has the habit of washing prey before eating it.

References:
1. Gils, van J. & P. Wiersma, 1996. Family Scolopacidae (Sandpipers, Snipes and Phalaropes. In del Hoyo, J., A. Elliott & J. Sargatal (eds.), Handbook of the birds of the world. Vol. 3. Hoatzin to Auks. Lynx Editions, Barcelona. Pp. 444-533.
2. Wells, D.R., 1999. The birds of the Thai-Malay Peninsular. Vol. I, Non-passerines. Academic Press, London. 648 pp.

This post is a cooperative effort between NaturePixels.org and BESG to bring the study of bird behaviour through photography to a wider audience.

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Categories: Feeding-invertebrates, Waders

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