Purple sandpipers are hardy wading birds that breed on coasts and tundra in the far north. In late summer and autumn, birds from Scandinavia, Svalbard, Greenland and some Arctic islands migrate to the UK for the winter. They can be found on rocky shores, especially around piers, groynes and breakwaters. They often form flocks with turnstones, searching for food amongst the seaweed.
How to identify
The purple sandpiper is slightly larger and stockier than a dunlin, giving it a distinctive "dumpy" shape. In winter they have a brown-grey head and back, with whitish underparts that have dark streaks - giving them a less clean look than the similar dunlin. The short legs are orange-yellow, and the downcurved bill has a yellowish base.
Did you know?
One or two pairs of purple sandpiper nest in Scotland, but their location is kept secret to protect them from disturbance.
