#scolopacidae

[herpsandbirds]

New Research: Woodcock Migration and Reproduction

In a new research publication, researchers present the first direct evidence of an incredibly rare breeding strategy called ‘itinerant breeding’ in a migratory bird – the American Woodcock. Itinerant breeding means that the birds' migrations and reproduction periods overlap and less than 0.1% of bird species are known to use this strategy. As part of this study, researchers tracked over 200 female American woodcocks using GPS and found that most of the tagged birds (>80%) nested more than once, with some nesting up to six times! The tagged birds moved an average of around 500 miles north between their first and second nests, and smaller distances (about 125+ miles) between later nests. This rare behavior likely occurs in woodcocks because they rely on temporary habitats for breeding, ground-nesting and have other life history traits that reduce the energy costs of reproductions and migrations. FWC relies on peer-reviewed science for its management; to access this full publication: https://bit.ly/WoodcockResearchPub

via: FWC Fish and Wildlife Research Institute

[uncharismatic-fauna]

Uncharismatic Fact of the Day

If any bird was going to be recognized for its pride, it would be the fabulous ruff. This bird was one of the first species in which homosexual behaviour was documented by a naturalist, Edmund Selous, in 1906!

(Image: A pair of male ruffs (Calidris pugnax) by Sulin Gopalan)

If you like what I do, consider buying me a ko-fi!

[have-you-seen-this-animal]

can you do the timberdoodle bird? love those silly guys

I hadn't realized they had so many magnificent common names! They're so silly.

Some other common names include timberdoodle, mudbat, bogsucker, night partridge, or Labrador twister. A very fun variety!

[fullfrontalbirds]

Have you done timberdoodles yet? (Scolopax minora)

American Woodcock (Scolopax minor)

© Fyn Kynd

[spinus-pinus]

Long-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus scolopaceus

11/19/2023 San Joaquin Marsh, California

[alonglistofbirds]

[2873/11080] Curlew sandpiper - Calidris ferruginea

Order: Charadriiformes Suborder: Scolopaci Family: Scolopacidae

Photo credit: Natthaphat Chotjuckdikul via Macaulay Library

[birdblues]

Wood Sandpiper

[snototter]

A common greenshank (Tringa nebularia) fishing for food in Shropshire, UK

by Dale Harding

[haveyouseenthisbirdpoll]

Photo source 1

Photo source 2

Map source

[unrestrained-balderdash-art-blog]

Day 4 of Migratory May: Whimbrel

Reference photo by Martin Pelanek

[ornithological]

dunlin (calidris alpina), ireland

[herpsandbirds]

Buff-breasted Sandpiper (Calidris subruficollis), HE STRUTT!!!, family Scolopacidae, order Charadriiformes, North Slope of Alaska

photograph by Stephen Dunaway

[uncharismatic-fauna]

Uncharismatic Fact of the Day

For snails, traveling long distances can be a bit of a challenge due to their size and extremely slow speed. Fortunatelly, snails in the genus Physa have found a workaround! In early February, about 20-30 snails will attach themselves to the wings of an upland sandpiper and hitch a ride south with the bird's migration.

(Images: The freshwater snail Physa acuta and its temporary host the upland sandpiper (Bartramia longicauda) by David Liebman and Nick Varvel respectively)

[auntie-birdie]

American Woodcock (Scolopax minor)

© Andrew Tao

[fullfrontalbirds]

Sanderling (Calidris alba)

© Jobi Cates

[spinus-pinus]

Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularius

8/14/2024 Los Angeles County, California

Tom Mills via iNaturalist, CC-BY-NC