Justification This species has an extremely large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence <20,000 km2 combined with a declining or fluctuating range size, habitat extent/quality, or population size and a small number of locations or severe fragmentation). Despite the fact that the population trend appears to be decreasing, the decline is not believed to be sufficiently rapid to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (>30% decline over ten years or three generations). The population size is very large, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion (<10,000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be >10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern.

Family/Sub-family Scolopacidae

Species name author (Linnaeus, 1758)

Taxonomic source(s) AERC TAC (2003), AOU checklist (1998 + supplements), Christidis and Boles (1994), Christidis and Boles (2008), Cramp and Simmons (1977-1994), Dowsett and Forbes-Watson (1993), SACC (2005 + updates), Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993), Stotz et al. (1996), Turbott (1990)

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

460,000 - 800,000

unset

2,620,000 km²

No

Important Bird Areas Click here to view map showing IBAs where species is recorded and triggers any of the IBA criteria.

Ecology: Behaviour This species is fully migratory¹. It breeds from May to early-August² in solitary pairs¹, although several pairs may nest close together in optimal habitats³ along coasts or on islands⁴. The species migrates in large flocks¹ and is gregarious and sociable when feeding or roosting in winter⁴, often foraging in close flocks of 10-100 or more individuals, especially in tidal areas¹. Habitat Breeding The species breeds near the coast or up to several kilometres inland⁴ in the high Arctic², nesting on coastal plains, marshes and tundra¹ and showing a preference for mosaics of bare rock, clay or shingle and vegetation near water⁴ or in areas that remain damp until late summer³. Non-breeding Outside of the breeding season the species is mainly coastal¹, although on migration it may occur inland along dykes or on lake shores¹. During the winter it frequents productive rocky and shingle shores^{1, 2}, breakwaters¹, sandy beaches with storm-wracked seaweed^{1, 2}, short-grass saltmarshes, sheltered inlets, estuaries, mangroves swamps, exposed reefs and mudflats with beds of molluscs¹. Diet Breeding On its Arctic breeding grounds the species takes Diptera (especially adult and larval midges) as well as larval Lepidoptera, Hymenoptera, Coleoptera and spiders, occasionally also taking vegetable matter early in the season¹. Non-breeding Outside of the breeding season its diet consists of insects, crustaceans, molluscs¹ (especially mussels or cockles)³, annelids, echinoderms, small fish, carrion and birds eggs¹. Breeding site The nest is a shallow depression¹ in mud, peat or on dry ground³ with dense vegetation¹, often positioned on a slight ridge, hummock or tussock, or in cleft or shallow fissure⁴. The species usually nests solitarily, although neighbouring pairs may nest as little as 15 m apart along coasts or on islands (where abundant feeding habitats are available)⁴. Management information Removing feral American mink Neovison vison from a large archipelago with many small islands in the Baltic Sea had the result of increasing the breeding density of this species in the area⁵.

Threats The species suffers nest predation from feral American mink Neovison vison in some regions⁵, and is susceptible to avian influenza so may be threatened by future outbreaks of the virus⁶.

References 1. del Hoyo et al. (1996). 2. Hayman et al. (1986). 3. Johnsgard (1981). 4. Snow and Perrins (1998). 5. Nordstrom et al. (2003). 6. Melville and Shortridge (2006).

Further web sources of information

Detailed species account from Birds in Europe: population estimates, trends and conservation status (BirdLife International 2004)

Text account compilers Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), Jonathan Ekstrom (BirdLife International), Lucy Malpas (BirdLife International)

IUCN Red List evaluators Jeremy Bird (BirdLife International), Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International)

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2010) Species factsheet: Arenaria interpres. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 30/7/2010

This information is based upon, and updates, the information published in BirdLife International (2000) Threatened birds of the world. Barcelona and Cambridge, UK: Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International, BirdLife International (2004) Threatened birds of the world 2004 CD-ROM and BirdLife International (2008) Threatened birds of the world 2008 CD-ROM. These sources provide the information for species accounts for the birds on the IUCN Red List.

To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife

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