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Calidris ptilocnemis

(Coues, 1873)

Rock Sandpiper

G5Secure Found in 7 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.103383
Element CodeABNNF11160
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassAves
OrderCharadriiformes
FamilyScolopacidae
GenusCalidris
Other Common Names
Bécasseau des Aléoutiennes (FR)
Concept Reference
American Ornithologists' Union (AOU). 1998. Check-list of North American birds. Seventh edition. American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C. [as modified by subsequent supplements and corrections published in The Auk]. Also available online: http://www.aou.org/.
Taxonomic Comments
C. maritima and C. ptilocnemis constitute a superspecies; they are regarded as conspecific by some authors (AOU 1983).
Conservation Status
Rank MethodExpertise without calculation
Review Date2016-04-07
Change Date1997-12-23
Edition AuthorsMehlman, D.W.
Range Extent200,000 to >2,500,000 square km (about 80,000 to >1,000,000 square miles)
Rank Reasons
Moderately large range, populations reasonably widespread and secure within range.
Range Extent Comments
BREEDING: west-central Alaska, on islands in Bering Sea, in Aleutian and Shumagin Islands, and in eastern Siberia on Chukotski Peninsula and the Commander Islands. NON-BREEDING: from southern Alaska south along Pacific coast to central California; in Eurasia from Commander Islands south to northern Kurile Islands (AOU 1983).
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

NON-BREEDING: rocky seacoasts, breakwaters, and mudflats (AOU 1983). BREEDING: Grassy or mossy tundra in coastal or montane areas (AOU 1983). Nests in the open on the ground. The nest is a depression, lined with grasses and leaves (Harrison 1978).

Ecology

Often seen in association with black turnstones and surfbirds.

Reproduction

Breeding begins in early June (Harrison 1978). Clutch size usually 4. Incubation about 20 days, by both sexes. Nestlings precocial and downy. Young tended by both sexes.
Terrestrial Habitats
AlpineTundraBare rock/talus/scree
Other Nations (2)
CanadaN4N
ProvinceRankNative
British ColumbiaS3NYes
United StatesN5B,N5N
ProvinceRankNative
CaliforniaSNRNYes
WashingtonS3NYes
OregonS3NYes
AlaskaS4B,S3NYes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
11 - Climate change & severe weatherPervasive (71-100%)UnknownLow (long-term)
11.1 - Habitat shifting & alterationPervasive (71-100%)UnknownLow (long-term)

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Roadless Areas (7)
Alaska (7)
AreaForestAcres
Chilkat-West Lynn CanalTongass National Forest199,772
Juneau UrbanTongass National Forest101,581
North BaranofTongass National Forest314,089
RedoubtTongass National Forest68,347
Sitka UrbanTongass National Forest112,003
South KruzofTongass National Forest55,193
Yakutat ForelandsTongass National Forest323,648
References (16)
  1. Alaska Natural Heritage Program. 2007. Unpublished distribution maps of Alaskan vertebrates. University of Alaska, Anchorage, Alaska.
  2. American Ornithologists' Union (AOU). 1983. Check-list of North American Birds, 6th edition. Allen Press, Inc., Lawrence, Kansas. 877 pp.
  3. American Ornithologists' Union (AOU). 1998. Check-list of North American birds. Seventh edition. American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C. [as modified by subsequent supplements and corrections published in <i>The Auk</i>]. Also available online: http://www.aou.org/.
  4. Carter, M., C. Hunter, D. Pashley, and D. Petit. 1998. The Watch List. Bird Conservation, Summer 1998:10.
  5. Harrison, C. 1978. A Field Guide to the Nests, Eggs and Nestlings of North American Birds. Collins, Cleveland, Ohio.
  6. Jehl, J. R., Jr. 1973. Breeding biology and systematic relationships of the stilt sandpiper. Wilson Bulletin 85:115-147.
  7. Knopf, F.L. 1996. Mountain Plover (<i>Charadrius montanus</i>). In A. Poole and F. Gill, editors. The Birds of North America, No. 211. The Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, and The American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, DC. 16 pp.
  8. Knopf, F.L., and J.R. Rupert. 1996. Productivity and movements of mountain plovers breeding in Colorado. Wilson Bulletin 108:28-35.
  9. Morrison, R.I.G. 1993/1994. Shorebird population status and trends in Canada. Bird Trends (3):3-5. Canadian Wildlife Service.
  10. Morrison, R. I. G., R. E. Gill, Jr., B. A. Harrington, S. Skagen, G. W. Page, C. L. Gratto-Trevor, and S. M. Haig. 2001. Estimates of shorebird populations in North America. Occasional Paper Number 104, Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment Canada, Ottawa, ON. 64 pages.
  11. Nol, E., and M. S. Blanken. 1999. Semipalmated Plover (<i>Charadrius semipalmatus</i>). No. 444 IN A. Poole and F. Gill, eds. The birds of North America. The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA. 24pp.
  12. Paulson, D. 1993. Shorebirds of the Pacific Northwest. Univ. Washington Press, Seattle. xv + 406 pp.
  13. Poole, A. F. and F. B. Gill. 1992. The birds of North America. The American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C. and The Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, PA.
  14. Rubega, M. A., D. Schamel, and D. M. Tracy. 2000. Red-necked Phalarope (<i>Phalaropus lobatus</i>). No. 538 IN A. Poole and F. Gill, editors, The birds of North America. The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA. 28pp.
  15. Sibley, D. A. 2000a. The Sibley guide to birds. Alfred A. Knopf, New York.
  16. Terres, J. K. 1980. The Audubon Society encyclopedia of North American birds. Alfred A. Knopf, New York.