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Dieren en planten

Waders   Sandpipers   Little stint   Dunlin   Sanderling   Red knot   Birds   Important bird region   

Mens en Milieu

Nature policy   Flora and Fauna Act   Bird Directive   

Dunlin

size:

length: 16-22 centimeters
wingspan: 35-40 centimeters

weight:

48 grams

color:

brown to gray-brown with black spots, large black spot on belly

age:

record: 18 years

food:

insects and larvae, worms, crustaceans, molluscs

reproduction:

number of eggs: 4

  • Dut: Bonte Strandloper
  • Eng: Dunlin
  • Fren: Bécasseau variable
  • Ger: Alpenstrandläufer
  • Dan: Klire (Almindelig Ryle)
  • Nor: Myrsnipe
  • Frisian: Bünte Gril
  • Ital: Piovanello pancianera
  • Lat: Calidris alpina
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Dunlin, Foto Fitis, www.fotofitis.nl

Dunlin

With its relatively long slightly curved sensitive bill and good eyesight, the dunlin finds its food by both sight and feel. When it finds a good spot to forage, it pricks the bottom like a sewing machine. Dunlins are the most common sandpiper species in Europe. You can find enormous groups in the wadden and delta regions, swirling through the air in synchronized flight.

On Texel


In May and from August till November, you can see the most dunlins on Texel. They used to be found particularly on the Schorren and around the polder Wassenaar. Nowadays, the majority are seen on the Hors. The dunlins search for food on the Balgzand near Den Helder. When it's high tide, they fly to the Hors on Texel to wait until the water drops. If you are on the ferry boat to Texel during ebb or flood, there is a good chance to see large groups of dunlins flying by.

  • Totally different

    There are a total of ten different subspecies of dunlins. Each subspecies looks slightly different and lives in a different region. Four of these subspecies are found in the Netherlands. You see particularly the Calidris alpina alpina. This bird broods in northern Scandinavia and western parts of Russia. It overwinters between northwestern Europe and northern Africa. In addition to the Calidris alpina alpina, you can also see the Calidris alpina arctica (nests in Greenland), the Calidris alpina schinzii (nests in Iceland and in southern Scandinavia) and the Calidris alpina centralis (nests in Central-Siberia) as they migrate via the Netherlands.

  • On Texel

    In May and from August till November, you can see the most dunlins on Texel. They used to be found particularly on the Schorren and around the polder Wassenaar. Nowadays, the majority are seen on the Hors. The dunlins search for food on the Balgzand near Den Helder. When it's high tide, they fly to the Hors on Texel to wait until the water drops. If you are on the ferry boat to Texel during ebb or flood, there is a good chance to see large groups of dunlins flying by.

  • Totally different

    There are a total of ten different subspecies of dunlins. Each subspecies looks slightly different and lives in a different region. Four of these subspecies are found in the Netherlands. You see particularly the Calidris alpina alpina. This bird broods in northern Scandinavia and western parts of Russia. It overwinters between northwestern Europe and northern Africa. In addition to the Calidris alpina alpina, you can also see the Calidris alpina arctica (nests in Greenland), the Calidris alpina schinzii (nests in Iceland and in southern Scandinavia) and the Calidris alpina centralis (nests in Central-Siberia) as they migrate via the Netherlands.

  • Distribution and habitat
    Dunlin, Greenland, Jeroen Reneerkens

    You find dunlins  particularly along the coast on sandy and muddy areas. You also find them more inland in freshwater regions, but then in smaller numbers. In the Netherlands, you will see them throughout the year. Large numbers are found particularly in the delta region and around the Wadden Sea. In the entire Wadden Sea, their numbers reach up to more than a million. However, they mostly nest in Scandianvia and rarely in the Netherlands.