Pectoral Sandpiper
Scientific Name: Calidris melanotosMaltese Name: Pispisella Amerikana
Family: Sandpipers and allies (Scolopacidae)
Occurence: Vagrant
Breeds in Malta: No
Overview:
This is one of the "most common" North American vagrant waders that is seen in Europe. Its two most distinctive features are its brown breastband coming to a point in the centre of breast (which gives the species its name) and the white belly. Its legs are pale and it has a brownish , scaly pattern on its back and wing coverts.
Status:
Vagrant to the Maltese Islands, recorded only 3 times. The latest recorded was on June 13th 2009 when 1 bird was seen by a handful of birdwatchers at Ghadira Nature Resrve. The other two records were both of shot birds.
When to See:
2 Records in December, 1 Record in June.
Photographs:
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| Pectoral Sandpiper, Ghadira Nature Reserve, 13th June 2009 | Pectoral Sandpiper, Ghadira Nature Reserve, 13th June 2009 |
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