Sanderling

The Sanderling is a small, lively bird often seen running along the edge of the sea, chasing waves that are going back out. In winter, it looks very pale grey on top and clean white underneath. During the breeding season, adults have a rusty orange colour on their head and upper body. It is noticeably paler than most other small sandpipers, with a straight black bill and black legs. One clear feature is that it does not have a back toe. This bird travels long distances. It breeds in the far north of the Arctic and spends the winter on sandy beaches in temperate and tropical areas around the world. In Britain, Sanderlings are common during migration and in winter, usually found on sandy shores around the coast. They are mostly not seen during the breeding season. They prefer open sandy beaches but can sometimes be found on mudflats. They are usually seen in small groups.