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Meet our Wildlife
Meet our Wildlife

Purple Sandpiper

Wading Birds
Gulls
Coastal Birds

Purple Sandpiper

Scientific Name: ( Calidris maritima )
Our rocky shores provide important feeding grounds for these shy, stocky birds during the winter months. Their dark-grey plumage can make them well camouflaged but look out for their bright orange-yellow legs as they scuttle over the rocks.
Purple sandpipers are medium-sized wading birds that migrate from the arctic and Scandinavia to the UK for the winter. They are found in rocky shore habitat and are often seen foraging for insects and small crustaceans in rock fissures and among beds of seaweed.
In winter, Purple sandpipers are mainly dark-grey with whitish, streaked underparts. They have a downcurved beak with a yellow base and short but distinctive bright orange-yellow legs. They are slightly larger and “dumpier” than the Dunlin, a similar wading bird found along our coastline.
Purple sandpipers are red-listed in the UK and populations are in decline. They are protected under the Northumbria Special Protection Area that covers areas of the Sunderland coastline. This is because nationally important numbers of these birds use our coastline during the winter months.
These birds are typically found in exposed rocky areas. Good locations to spot them in Sunderland include Whitburn bents and Hendon beach. Always remember to follow our guidance when it comes to reducing bird disturbance.
KEY FACTS
CONSERVATION STATUS | RED
LENGTH | 21cm
WINGSPAN | 44cm
WHEN TO SEE THEM | Winter

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