The Bécasseau of variable ( Calidris alpina ) is small a Limicole pertaining to the family of the Scolopacidae and the subfamily of the Calidridinae.

Description

This sandpiper measures 16 to 22 cm. Its black nozzle of intermediate size is slightly arched. Its legs are black also. The projection of the primary rémiges is short, the point of the wings arriving at the end of the tail.

In bridal plumage, this species is characterized by the presence of a black ventral spot.

Subspecies

The variable Sandpiper is represented by nine subspecies:

• arctica nicheuse in the North-East of the Greenland and wintering in the North-West of Africa;
• schinzii nicheuse of the south-east of Greenland, Iceland and British Isles in the south of the Scandinavia and the Baltic , wintering in the south-west of Europe and the North-West of Africa;
• alpina nicheuse in the north of Europe and the North-West of the Siberia until Iénisséï, wintering in the west of Europe, on the edges of the the Mediterranean, in Africa and in the south-west of Asia until in India;
• sakhalina nicheuse in the extreme North-East of Asia, wintering in the east of the China, in Korea, with the Japan and Taiwan;
• actites nicheuse in the north of Sakhaline and wintering in the east of Asia;
• kistchinskii nicheuse of the north of the sea of Okhotsk and the south of Koryakland in the north of the Kouriles and the Kamtchatka, wintering in the east of Asia;
• arcticola nicheuse in the north and the North-West of Alaska and in the North-West of the Canada, winters in China, Korea and in Japan;
• pacifica nicheuse in the west and the south of Canada, winters in the west of the the United States and the Mexico;
• hudsonia nicheuse in center and north of Canada Hudson Bay, wintering in the south-east of the United States.

Distribution

The variable Sandpiper has a world distribution except for South America.

Behavior

The variable Sandpiper picore and probes the mudholes quickly. It also frequently exploits not very deep water.

Source

• Taylor D. (2006) Guide of limicolous of Europe, Asia and North America . Delachaux & Niestlé, Paris, 224 p.

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