Dunlin
Calidris alpina
Length 17-19cm

A local but fairly common breeding species on N moors but an abundant, flock-forming winter visitor to most estuaries and mudflats in Britain and Ireland where generally the most numerous species of wader. Variable in terms of body size and bill length but bill usually long and slightly downcurved. Winter bird (A) has rather uniform grey upperparts and white underparts. In breeding season (B), shows chestnut-brown back and cap, streaked underparts and black belly. Juvenile has dark spots on flanks with grey, black and chestnut on back. Call priit.