- Little Stint
Taxobox
name = Little Stint
status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1
status_ref = [IUCN2006|assessors=BirdLife International |year=2004|id=49077|title=Calidris minuta|downloaded=11 May 2006 Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern]
image_width = 200px
image_caption = Adult in late summer
regnum =Animal ia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo =Charadriiformes
familia =Scolopacidae
genus = "Calidris "
species = "C. minuta"
binomial = "Calidris minuta"
binomial_authority = Leisler,1812
subdivision_ranks = Synonyms
subdivision ="Erolia minuta"The Little Stint, "Calidris" or "Erolia minuta", is a very small
wader . It breeds inarctic Europe andAsia , and is a long-distance migrant, wintering south toAfrica and southAsia . It occasionally is a vagrant toNorth America and toAustralia . It is gregarious in winter, sometimes forming large flocks with other "Calidris" waders, particularlyDunlin , on coastal mudflats or the edges of inland pools.The numbers of this species, and of
Curlew Sandpiper depend on the population oflemming s. In poor lemming years, predatory species such asskua s andSnowy Owl s will take Arctic breeding waders instead.Its small size, fine dark bill, dark legs and quicker movements distinguish this species from all waders except the other dark-legged
stint s. It can be distinguished from these in all plumages by its combination of a fine bill tip, unwebbed toes and long primary projection. The call is a sharp "stit",The breeding adult has an orange wash to the breast, a white throat and a strong white v on its back. In winter plumage identification is difficult. Juveniles have pale crown stripes and a pinkish breast.
This
bird nests on a bare ground scrape laying 3-5 eggs. It is polygamous, and male and female may incubate separate clutches.Food is small
invertebrate s picked off the mud.The Little Stint is one of the species to which the "Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds" (
AEWA ) applies.An apparent hybrid between this species and
Temminck's Stint has been reported fromThe Netherlands . [Jonsson, Lars (1996): Mystery stint at Groote Keeten: First known hybrid between Little and Temminck's Stint? "Dutch Birding " 18: 24-28.]References
Further reading
Identification
* Jonsson, Lars &
Peter J. Grant (1984) Identification of stints and peeps "British Birds" 77(7):293-315External links
* [http://www.oiseaux.net/birds/photos/little.stint.html Oiseaux] Photos
* [http://www.ibercajalav.net/img/184_LittleStintCminuta.pdf Ageing and sexing (PDF) by Javier Blasco-Zumeta]
* [http://www.bsc-eoc.org/avibase/species.jsp?lang=EN&id=DC89F10D62FE9858&ts=1220274657442&sec=summary Avibase]
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