Courting Pectoral Sandpiper

A male Pectoral Sandpiper showed up in Øygarden, western Norway today. It was only the fourth county record.

Note the large breast sac. Males use it for making their characteristic hooting sound during courtship. Several Pectoral Sandpipers have been observed in Norway during the species regular breeding season. Most of these birds are obviously on early return migration together with other sandpipers. Like the bird from Øygarden, several individuals have shown aggressive behavior and with well developed breast sacks. The species has never been confirmed as a breeder in Norway, but might well be the next one out!

Pectoral Sandpiper Calidris melanotos, Øygarden 22 June 2006.