Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Calidris acuminata Scientific name definitions

The Sharp-tailed Sandpiper (Calidris acuminata) was not known to science until 1821, when one was collected on Java. The first nest was not discovered until 1957, when K. A. Vorobiev found a single nest in the Russian Far East (1 Kozlowa, E. V. (1966). Discovery of the nesting of the Sharp-tailed Sandpiper. Emu 66(3):252. Close ). Despite its historical obscurity, this attractive, medium-sized sandpiper is full of surprises. For decades, the Pectoral Sandpiper (Calidris melanotos) was considered its nearest relative, largely due to similarities in appearance and (presumed) ecology. Nonetheless, a multi-gene study revealed that its sister species is actually the rather different-looking Broad-billed Sandpiper (Calidris falcinellus), which at that time, was in its own genus, Limicola (2 Gibson, R., and A. Baker (2012). Multiple Gene Sequences Resolve Phylogenetic Relationships in the Shorebird Suborder Scolopaci (Aves: Charadriiformes). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 64(1):66–72. Close ).

Although seemingly delicate, this long-distance migrant is far more durable than it appears, successfully flying more than 10,000 km each way between its far eastern Siberian breeding grounds and its Australasian (primarily Australian) "wintering" grounds. Furthermore, juveniles add a one-time detour of approximately 2,300 km due east to the west coast of Alaska to beef up before undertaking a nonstop overwater flight of up to 9,800 km southwards to Australasia (3 Lindström, Å., Gill, R.E., Jamieson, S.E., McCaffery, B., Wennerberg, L., Wikelski, M. and Klaassen, M. (2011). A puzzling migratory detour: are fueling conditions in Alaska driving the movement of juvenile Sharp-tailed Sandpipers? Condor. 113(1): 129–139. Close ); a flight that rivals that of the much larger Bristle-thighed Curlew (Numenius tahitiensis) and Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica) that breed in Alaska (4 McCaffery, B. J. (2008). On scimitar wings: long-distance migration by the bar-tailed godwit and bristle-thighed curlew. Birding 40:50–59. Close , 5 Gill Jr., R.E., Tibbitts, T.L. , Douglas, D.C. , Handel, C.M. , Mulcahy, D.M. , Gottschalck, J.C. , Warnock, N., McCaffery, B.J. , Battley, P.F. and Piersma, T. (2009). Extreme endurance flights by landbirds crossing the Pacific Ocean: ecological corridor rather than barrier? Proc. Royal Soc. London (Ser. B Biol. Sci.). 276: 447–457. Close ). During their refueling period, some young Sharp-tailed Sandpipers double their weight, largely due to fat deposition (3 Lindström, Å., Gill, R.E., Jamieson, S.E., McCaffery, B., Wennerberg, L., Wikelski, M. and Klaassen, M. (2011). A puzzling migratory detour: are fueling conditions in Alaska driving the movement of juvenile Sharp-tailed Sandpipers? Condor. 113(1): 129–139. Close ). The only other avian species known to have a migratory route unique to its juveniles is the European Honey-buzzard (Pernis apivorus)(6 Schmid H 2000 Getrennte Wege: Der Herbstzug von juvenilen und adulten Wespenbuzzarden Pernis apivorus - eine Synthese. Ornithol. Beob. 97:191-222 Close , 7 Hake, M., N. Kjellén, and T. Alerstam (2003). Age-dependent migration strategy in honey buzzards Pernis apivorus tracked by satellite. Oikos 103:385 – 396 Close ).

The Sharp-tailed Sandpiper is listed as not globally threatened (Least Concern). Its world population is uncertain, but is probably in the vicinity of 100,000 birds (8 Bamford, M., D. Watkins, W. Bancroft, G. Tischler, and J. Wahl (2008). Migratory shorebirds of the East Asian-Australasian Flyway: population estimates and internationally important sites. Wetlands International, Canberra, Australia. Close , 9 Hansen, B.D., R. A. Fuller, D. Watkins, D. I. Rogers, R. S. Clemens, M. Newman, E. J. Woehler, and D. R. Weller, D.R. (2016). Revision of the East Asian-Australasian Flyway Population Estimates for 37 listed Migratory Shorebird Species. Unpublished report for the Department of the Environment. BirdLife Australia, Melbourne, Australia. Close ). This compares with a population of >1,500,000 birds for Pectoral Sandpiper(10 Farmer, A., R. T. Holmes, and F. A. Pitelka (2020). Pectoral Sandpiper (Calidris melanotos), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (S. M. Billerman, Editor). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.pecsan.01 Close ), 1,085,000–1,285,000 birds for Curlew Sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea) (11 Wetlands International (2015). Waterbird Population Estimates. Wetlands International, Wageningen, The Netherlands. Close ), and 29,000 to 40,000 for Broad-billed Sandpiper (12 Van Gils, J., P. Wiersma, and G. M. Kirwan (2020). Broad-billed Sandpiper (Calidris falcinellus), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott, J. Sargatal, D. A. Christie, and E. de Juana, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.brbsan.01 Close ). Though its status seems secure, it is threatened by habitat loss at migratory stops in Asia caused by industrial development and water diversion along major tributaries (13 Barter, M. A. (2002). Shorebirds of the Yellow Sea: importance, threats and conservation status. Wetlands International Global Series 9, International Wader Studies 12, Canberra, Australia. Close ).

We know something of the Sharp-tailed Sandpiper's polygynous or, possibly, promiscuous breeding habits (14 Pitelka, F. A. (1959). Numbers, breeding schedule, and territoriality in Pectoral Sandpipers of northern Alaska. Condor 61:233-264. Close , 15 Pitelka, F. A., R. T. Holmes and Jr. MacLean, S. F. (1974). Ecology and evolution of social organization in arctic sandpipers. American Zoologist 14 (1):185-204. Close , 16 Myers, J. P. (1982a). The promiscuous Pectoral Sandpiper. American Birds 36:119-122. Close , 17 Khlebosolov, E. I. (1985). The territorial behavior and its relation to the postnesting ecology in some tundra Limicolae. Zoologicheskij Zhurnal 64:1024–1035. Close ), but there is still much to learn about its breeding biology and the migratory habits of adults. Even its movements on its wintering grounds, which are complex, are only partially understood. Much work can be done before we understand the lifestyle of this beautiful bird and thus learn how to protect it.