PECTORAL SANDPIPER

Photographed at Werribee Wetlands, Victoria February 2015

499          PECTORAL SANDPIPER           Calidris melanotos

Australia           (340)

19-23 cm. Breeds ne. Siberia and American Arctic: most migrate to S. America, but some to Japan, Pacific Islands, PNG, NZ and Aust., mostly to se mainland from Adelaide to Brisbane, Tasmania, sw WA up near Shark Bay, top of WA across to Darwin, around Cooktown (Q). Found in shallow freshwater, often with low grass or other herbage, swamp margins, flooded pastures, sewerage ponds, occasionally taidal areas and salt marshes.