Spoonbill Sandpipers

Ken Gilliland

Spoonbill Sandpipers

With its spatulate bill the Spoon-billed Sandpiper is unique among waders. Measuring only 5 1/2 inches, it is the only globally threatened sandpiper breeding in the Arctic, with only 450 to 1,000 birds remaining. It has a limited breeding range on the Chukotsk peninsula and southwards up to the isthmus of the Kamchatka peninsula, in north-eastern Russia. It migrates down the western Pacific coast through Russia, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, mainland China, Hong Kong (China) and Taiwan (China), to its main wintering grounds in Bangladesh and Myanmar. Wintering birds have also been recorded from India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore. Found almost exclusively at sea-coasts where there are sandy ridges sparsely vegetated by mosses, dwarf willows and grasses, interspersed with or neighboring to salt marshes and brackish ponds.

Throughout its migratory and wintering ranges, tidal flats are being reclaimed for industry, infrastructure and aquaculture and are becoming increasingly polluted. There are no immediate threats to the breeding grounds, but nests are sometimes destroyed by dogs. Human disturbance, both by residents and researchers, may cause increased levels of nest desertion and predation by foxes and skuas. Shorebirds, including this species, are also occasionally killed by children with slingshots.

This scene was render from a 3D model and environment created by the artist from his songbird Remix bird collection.

Spoonbill Sandpipers belongs to the following groups:

3D Animals Abound, Birds and Creatures of Flight and I Love Birds Available for sale as

Greeting Cards

Spoonbill Sandpipers by Ken Gilliland
Spoonbill Sandpipers by Ken Gilliland
  • Walter Colvin

    Walter Colvin 28 days ago

    Fantastic wildlife scene Ken, very well done. I think the shorebird volumes are going to be some of your Best work, so far they are great. Nice job on the legs.

    These models sure make my work a lot easer, Thank you.

  • Ken Gilliland replied 27 days ago

    Thanks, Walter

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