Parental behavior in the Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla)

Abstract

Breeding Least Sandpipers were studied in Nova Scotia (1975–1976), Manitoba (1978), Yukon Territory (1979), and British Columbia (1982–1984). The most detailed study was on Sable Island, Nova Scotia, which is near the southern limit of the breeding range. The nesting period there was relatively long, and the species was strictly monogamous. Males tended to incubate during daylight hours and females, at night. There was a weak (insignificant) trend for males to increase their role in incubation as it progressed. Shortly after hatching, broods moved to undefended foraging areas, where they tended to remain throughout the period of parental attendance. Chicks could fly strongly by 14 – 16 days of age but were attended by parents for longer: females attended broods for 0 – 22 days (average 6) after hatching and males for 14 – 27 (average 20). After their parents left, chicks slowly drifted away from where they had been reared. Diversionary behavior of incubating birds, and of parents attending young chicks, was similar in all study areas. "Alarm" behavior and vocalizations of parents were also very similar in all localities and included four types of calls during brooding and undisturbed attendance and two types when disturbed by humans.