Common sandpiper

A bird of the family Scolopacidae in the order Charadriiformes. It breeds widely in central Eurasia, and some migrate south in winter. In Japan, it breeds commonly in Hokkaido and Honshu, and nests and eggs were discovered in Kumamoto Prefecture in 1980 and Miyazaki Prefecture in 1982. It is about 20 cm long and 11 cm long. The upper surface of the body is gray-brown with fine black spots, and the eyebrows are white. The face, neck, and chest have gray-brown vertical spots, and the abdomen is white. When flying, a white band appears on the wings. In the breeding season, it lives on the banks of inland rivers and lakes, and in the non-breeding season, it can be seen in coastal coves, rocky shores, and the skirts of breakwaters. It walks on the ground at the water's edge, swinging its tail up and down, and searches for animal matter as food. It often flies low from shore to shore, flapping its wings shallowly in spasms, and makes a thin, "twirling" sound. During the breeding season, they fly around making a "tsuchi-chi, tsuchi-chi" sound. They make a shallow depression at the base of a grass plant, lay dead grass on it, and lay four eggs. The chicks are covered in downy feathers and leave the nest soon after hatching.

[Shinji Takano]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

鳥綱チドリ目シギ科の鳥。ユーラシアの中部で広く繁殖し、冬は南へ移動するものもある。日本では北海道と本州で普通に繁殖し、1980年（昭和55）熊本県、82年には宮崎県でも巣と卵が発見された。全長約20センチメートル、翼長約11センチメートル。体の上面は灰黒褐色で細かい黒色の斑(はん)があり、眉斑(びはん)は白い。顔、頸(くび)、胸には灰褐色の縦斑があり腹部は白い。飛ぶと翼に白帯が出る。繁殖期には内陸の川岸や湖岸にすみ、非繁殖期には海岸の入り江、磯(いそ)、防波堤のすそなどにも姿をみせる。水際の地上を尾を上下に振りながら歩いて、動物質の餌(えさ)をあさる。翼をけいれんさせるように浅く羽ばたいて岸から岸へ低く飛ぶことが多く、ツィーリーリーと細い声を発する。繁殖期にはツチチ、ツチチと鳴きながら飛び回る。草の根元に浅いへこみをつくり枯れ草を敷いて巣とし、4個の卵を産む。雛(ひな)は綿羽に覆われ、孵化(ふか)してまもなく巣を離れる。

［高野伸二］

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