Dunlin
Calidris alpina
Sandpipers and Allies (Scolopacidae) · Charadriiformes (Charadriiformes)
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Often mixed up with
In quizzes, players most often confuse Dunlin with these birds— either this species was picked by mistake, or the other way around.
| Species | Mix-ups |
|---|---|
| Sanderling Calidris alba | 67 |
| Little Stint Calidris minuta | 53 |
| Purple Sandpiper Calidris maritima | 47 |
| Temminck's Stint Calidris temminckii | 40 |
| Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea | 37 |
Family
Scolopacidae is a large family of shorebirds, or waders, which mainly includes many species known as sandpipers, but also others such as woodcocks, curlews, and snipes. Most of these species eat small invertebrates picked out of the mud or soil. There is no evidence that different lengths of bills enable multiple species to feed in the same habitat, particularly on the coast, without direct competition for food.
Order
Charadriiformes (, from Charadrius, the type genus of family Charadriidae) is a diverse order of small to medium-large birds. It includes about 390 species and has members in all parts of the world. Most charadriiform birds live near water and eat invertebrates or other small animals; however, some are pelagic (seabirds), others frequent deserts, and a few are found in dense forest.