Common name: Dunlin
Scientific name: Calidris alpina
Family: Scolopacidae

Size:
Body length: 16–22 cm
Wingspan: 32–36 cm
Weight: 40–80 g

Identification:
A small, compact wader with a relatively long, slightly downcurved bill. In breeding plumage, it shows a distinctive black belly patch contrasting with rufous upperparts. In non-breeding (winter) plumage, it becomes grey-brown above and white below, losing the black belly. In flight, it shows a clear white wing stripe. Its slightly drooping bill and busy feeding behavior help distinguish it from other small sandpipers.

Habitat:
Coastal mudflats, estuaries, sandy shores, lagoons, and occasionally inland wetlands. Prefers soft substrates for probing.

Status in the UAE:
Common winter visitor and passage migrant. Often seen in large flocks along coastal areas and mudflats.

Diet:
Carnivorous — feeds on small invertebrates such as worms, crustaceans, and insects, probing into mud or sand.

Behavior:
Highly social, often forming dense flocks that move in synchronized patterns. Feeds actively, probing rapidly in mud. Flight is fast and coordinated, with flocks twisting and turning together.

Conservation status:
Least Concern (IUCN Red List), though some populations are declining