The dunlin is a medium-sized shorebird about 6.3-8.7 inches (16-22.1 cm) in length with a wingspan of 13-14 inches (33-35.6 cm).
It has a long, dark bill with a slight downward curve at the tip. It has a black patch on its belly and black legs. Its back and wings are reddish-brown, and its head and chest are white with brownish specks. In winter, the dunlin is gray.
The dunlin was formerly known as the red-backed sandpiper.
The dunlin eats insects and larvae, marine worms, small crustaceans, snails, and small fish.
The female dunlin usually lays four eggs. The chicks hatch in 21-22 days and fledge (develop flight feathers) at 19-21 days old.
The dunlin has a lifespan of around 5 years in the wild. The oldest known dunlin in the wild lived to be 24 years old.
In winter, dunlins gather in huge flocks. If they are startled, they all fly off together, turning and flying in unison.
The dunlin is sometimes called the “sewing machine” because of the way it bobs its head up and down and pokes into the ground as it probes for food.
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Dunlins do not breed in New Hampshire. They can be spotted on beaches and mudflats in the state in the winter.
The dunlin breeds from western and northern Alaska east to the Hudson Bay.
It winters along the coast from southern Alaska and New Hampshire south to Mexico.
It is also found in Europe, northern Africa, and Asia.
