| י209) ביצנית אפורה | ||||||||||
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:בצנית אפורה . בצנית קטנה, מקורה הארוך נוטה כלפי מעלה . רגליה הצהובות מבדילות אותה משאר החופמאים . חלקי גופה העליונים חומים אפורים, גבה וזנבה בהירים במקצת . צדי החזה מפוספסים וגחונה לבן. כנפיה צרות, ומחודדות וארוכות . הזנב קצר ומרובע . בית גידולה בתקופת הקינון ליד מקווי מים מתוקים הסמוכים ליערות ושיחים . לאחר הקינון לאורך חופים טרופיים ושדות פתוחים . בארץ עוברת אורח נדירה באביב ובסתיו, בעיקר בצפון . | ||||||||||
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Subspecies and Distribution.
Xenus cinereus S Finland, NW Russia and Ukraine E through C Siberian to boreal taiga zone. Winters from SW, S and E Africa through Middle East, S Asia and Indonesia to Australia. םםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםם םםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםם | ||||||||||
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Descriptive notes.
Small Sandpiper with long upcurved bill and short orange to yellow legs. Grey brown upperparts with almost black centers to feathers, particularly distinct on scapulars. Streaked crown, hindneck, cheeks and sides of breast. Broad white trailing edge to wings. Female averages slightly larger. Non-breeding adult plainer, brownish grey above with pale fringes. Some birds have shorter bills, not very obviously upcurved. Habitat. On breeding grounds, occupies in lowland valleys, especially on flood plains with alternation of tall grasses and scrub willows. Most typical on northern taiga and forest tundra. Outside breeding season, on tropical coasts, especially open intertidal mud flats and estuaries, also coral reefs, sandy beaches, and coastal swamps and salt pans. Often roosts communally on branches of mangroves. Food and Feeding. Diet consists mainly of adult and larval midges, as well as seeds. Variety of insects, small molluscs, crustaceans including crabs, spiders and annelid worms. Rapid feeding action, with abrupt changes of direction. Often teeters, pecks at sand or water surface. Chases mobile prey on surface, also uses avocet-like sideways sweeping action. Frequently probes, often washes prey in water's edge. Usually feeds during low tide, but may also feed during high tide. Breeding. May-Jul, usually in semi colonial. Nest is shallow depression sparsely lined with grass and debris, in open or short vegetation , close to water. 4 eggs, single brood, incubation 24 days. Chick greyish brown or rusty grey above finely stippled and mottled dusky, with black mid-line across crown and back and white chin, throat and underparts. Movements. Migratory. Moves S Jul-Oct, N Apr-May. In E Asia migrates along coasts USSR, Japan, Korea, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Philippines and Micronesia. Birds wintering in Australia and Indonesia farther N than those wintering in SE Asia. In W Asia birds pass S through Caspian region and Middle East to Africa. Status and Conservation. Not globally threatened. In Asia population birds estimated at up to 140.000 birds and in Australia 20.000 birds. Israel. In Israel subspecies Xenus cinereus. Scarce passage migrant, mainly along Mediterranean Coastal Strip and at Eilat. |
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