ExploreBirds

Purple Sandpiper

Calidris maritima

The Purple Sandpiper is a small bird that loves to stay near the ocean. It has beautiful purple-gray feathers and enjoys hopping on rocky shores to find food like tiny crabs and worms.

Habitat: Coastal areas

Appearance

The Purple Sandpiper is a stocky, medium-sized shorebird with dusky grey-brown plumage, often showing a subtle purplish sheen in good light. It has a yellowish base to its bill and short, yellow-orange legs. Its belly is white, contrasting with its dark, mottled back.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassAvesOrderCharadriiformesFamilyScolopacidaeGenusCalidris
Purple Sandpiper
feathered trait badgesocial trait badgecolorful trait badgecoastal trait badge
Purple Sandpiper

Category

Birds

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

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Interesting facts

Baby Purple Sandpipers can leave their nests mere hours after hatching!

Its 'purple' color is usually only visible in just the right sunlight.

They often nest high up in the Arctic mountains, far from the sea.

This tough bird eats its meals while powerful waves crash all around it!

Special abilities

Ability

Wave Rider

Purple Sandpiper can feed in crashing waves because its sturdy body and strong legs help it stay balanced on slippery rocks.

Ability

Arctic Survivor

Purple Sandpiper has dense, insulating feathers that help it stay warm even in freezing Arctic winds and icy coastal waters.

Ability

Rock Gripper

Purple Sandpiper has short, strong toes that help it grip seaweed-covered rocks, preventing slips in turbulent conditions.

Measurements & details

Length
20-22 cm
Wingspan
38-42 cm
Weight
0.05-0.105 kg
Lifespan
8-15 years
Top Speed
70 km/h
Clutch Size
3-4
Incubation
21-22 days
Migration Distance
4000 km

Diet & Feeding

These birds mostly eat small ocean creatures they find clinging to rocks and seaweed in the intertidal zone.

Primary Foods

  • Common Periwinkle
  • Blue Mussel
  • Amphipods
  • Marine worms
  • Small insects

Foraging Method

  • Foraging

Ecological connections

eaten by

Peregrine Falcon

Falco peregrinus

hunts sandpipers during migration

eaten by

Arctic Fox

Vulpes lagopus

preys on eggs and chicks

hunts

Common Periwinkle

Littorina littorea

eats these marine snails

hunts

Blue Mussel

Mytilus edulis

pries open and eats mussels

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Always watch birds from a distance and do not try to touch them.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is Purple Sandpiper?

20-22 cm

What is Purple Sandpiper's wingspan?

38-42 cm

How much does Purple Sandpiper weigh?

0.05-0.105 kg

How long does Purple Sandpiper live?

8-15 years

How fast can Purple Sandpiper move?

70 km/h

What does Purple Sandpiper eat?

These birds mostly eat small ocean creatures they find clinging to rocks and seaweed in the intertidal zone.

Where is Purple Sandpiper usually found?

Coastal areas

How does Purple Sandpiper hunt?

Foraging

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