Summer plumage. Taken at Farmoor, Oxon., on April 28th 2023. (© David Hastings)
(1/1000th sec at f9. Click image for larger version)
Winter plumage. Taken at Farmoor, Oxon., on April 26th 2017. (© David Hastings)
(1/160th sec at f14. Click image for larger version)
Juvenile. Taken at Farmoor, Oxon., on August 25th 2024. (© David Hastings)
(1/640th sec at f11. Click image for larger version)

Description

L: 17 - 21 cm; WS: 32 - 36 cm

The Dunlin is the commonest small wader found along the British coast. It has a slightly down-curved bill and a distinctive black belly patch in breeding plumage. There are three subspecies of Dunlin, differing in bill length and the brightness of the rufous upperparts. Ssp arctica is shortest-billed and least rufous; ssp schinzii has intermediate bill length and rufousness; ssp alpina has the longest bill and the most rufousness. Actually separating them is quite difficult, but the shortest-bill individuals are probably male arctica or schinzii, and the longest billed are probably female alpina.

Dunlin can be found on the coast at any time of year.

They breed in upload areas in south-west and northern England, Wales and Scotland.

They feed in flocks in winter, sometimes numbering thousands, roosting on nearby fields, saltmarshes and shore when the tide is high.

Around 10000 pairs breed in Britain, with over half a million birds spending the winter here. However, this species on on the UK 'red' list.

Sightings