Christmas Sandpiper (Prosobonia cancellata)

Other Scientific Names
Prosobonia cancellatus [Collar and Andrew (1988)]

Other Names (World)
Christmas Sandpiper, Kiritimati Sandpiper

Family
Scolopacidae (Sandpipers, Snipes, Phalaropes)

Size
17 cm

First Described (Guide)
(Gmelin, 1789)

Habitat
Upper beaches of coral rubble and sand amongst dwarf srubs (especially Scaevola, Messerschmidti and Guettarda) and scattered tall shrubs, as well as in adjacent areas of shrubland and interior of forest, especially open forest. Also infrequently to atoll shorelines and lagoon edges.

Range (Guide)

French Polynesia (B), Kiribati (E) (B).

Tuamotu Is (French Polynesia).

Population
Estimated population is 1,300 (2010) and decreasing.

Status EX
Human disturbance, predation by introduced of rats, particularly black rat Rattus rattus, and also cats, are the main threats.

For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet.

Habits
Non-migratory.

Food
Mainly invertebrates and some plant material, gleaned from the vegetation of scrubs and trees and also from the surface of the ground.

Voice
A high squeaking note. Frequent alarm call is a medium-pitched repetitive 'ti-ti-ti-ti'. Song is a more elaborate lower pitched long-lasting trill.

Subspecies
May have formed superspecies with extinct Tahiti Sandpiper (Prosobonia leucoptera) and Moorea Sandpiper (Prosobonia ellisi).

Formerly placed in genus Aechmorhynchus. Population of Tuamotu sometimes separated as parvirostris, awarded subspecies or even species status. In the latter arrangement, extant birds would become Prosobonia parvirostris and name Prosobonia cancellata restricted to extinct form of Kiritimati. However, available information probably too scanty to enable firm conclusions.

No subspecies.

Similar Species
Sanderling (Calidris alba) is larger and much paler.

References
See References.

Files:

More Information

BirdLife International

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BirdLife International Species Factsheet.

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