Solitary Sandpiper
(Tringa solitaria) M, B |
 |
RANGE: Breeds from central and south-coastal
Alaska and northern Yukon to northern and central Ontario, east
through central Quebec to central and southern Labrador, and
south to northwestern and central British Columbia across to
southern Manitoba and northern Minnesota. Winters from the Gulf
Coast, southeastern Georgia, and Florida south to South America.
STATUS: Common.
HABITAT: Inhabits inland muskeg with scattered mature trees or
clumps of trees near freshwater lakes and ponds in the
coniferous forest belt of boreal and subarctic regions. On its
breeding range it perches freely on treetops, twigs, limbs, and
stumps. Outside of the breeding season it occurs inland along
shallow freshwater woodland streams, ponds, bogs, flooded
marshes, stagnant pools, mudflats, and barnyard puddles.
SPECIAL HABITAT REQUIREMENTS: Muskegs. Strongest breeding
habitat association in wet montane meadow.
NEST: Nests up to 43 feet above ground in the old nests of
American robins, waxwings, rusty blackbirds, and eastern
kingbirds. Usually uses nests in coniferous trees that border
muskeg or open bogs, or beside a lake.
FOOD: Forages while walking about on stranded vegetation, in
soft mud, or in very shallow water. Eats aquatic insects,
especially larvae, also worms, grubs, dragonfly nymphs,
water-scavenger beetles, water boatmen, grasshoppers,
caterpillars, spiders, small crustaceans, and small frogs.
REFERENCES: Adamus et al. 2001, Bent 1929, Cramp and Simmons
1983, Miller 1999, Palmer 1967, Pough 1951, Shunk 2004. |
