Birds of the Massachusetts Coast

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"Feast of Green" -- Dunlins (Calidris alpina, in the sandpiper family) are often found in groups, as with this individual. The dark belly is characteristic of its breeding plumage (this shot is from May), and is a feature unique among similar-sized shorebirds. Slightly larger than the Sanderling, Dunlins have a somewhat longer, clearly down-curved bill. It feeds with a rapid sewing-machine motion, normally pausing only very briefly–very frustrating to photographers, though I seem to have caught a pause here!
Copyright © 2009 John Van de Graaff

"Feast of Green" -- Dunlins (Calidris alpina, in the sandpiper family) are often found in groups, as with this individual. The dark belly is characteristic of its breeding plumage (this shot is from May), and is a feature unique among similar-sized shorebirds. Slightly larger than the Sanderling, Dunlins have a somewhat longer, clearly down-curved bill. It feeds with a rapid sewing-machine motion, normally pausing only very briefly–very frustrating to photographers, though I seem to have caught a pause here!

Bird Photographs by John Van de Graaff