Purple Sandpipers | Where You Can Find Them in the Arctic Tundra

For many guests, Svalbard is nature’s mega-mall showcasing the diverse flora and fauna. There are 19 marine mammals species and around 250 bird species in this remote region.

While most wildlife lovers and photographers dream of seeing a polar bear, Arctic birding is integral to exploring the Svalbard archipelago. 

The magnificent landscape around Svalbard attracts large flocks of birds in summer offering endless opportunities to capture unique photos. The purple sandpiper has the northernmost range among the various bird shorebirds. Spending the summer around Svalbard, they migrate to warmer regions as winter approaches.

What does a Purple Sandpiper look like?

This medium-sized wader is between 20- 22 cm long and weighs 60-100 grams. Their wingspan is around 43 cm. Interestingly, bill and wing lengths vary in bird populations from Iceland, Greenland, Svalbard, Canada, Norway and Russia.

Purple sandpipers have a long beak and short legs with a yellow tinge. From a distance, the combination of the round belly and the short legs often gives the appearance of squatting. While they are not among the fastest-flying shorebirds, the purple sandpiper has robust flight capabilities.

Coming to the plumage, it is mostly brown-grey at the top which turns whitish on the lower portions. There are black-brown patches that run along the underside of the birds. Breeding birds are more heavily spotted. The average lifespan of a purple sandpiper in the wild is between 6 to 10 years. 

You may say that the term “purple” in their name is a misnomer. There is a purple or violet sheen to their wing feathers, but that is hard to notice, even through a telephoto lens. Distinguishing between the sexes is difficult as male and female birds have similar plumage. However, the females are slightly larger than the males.

Where does the Purple Sandpiper breed?

The arctic tundra is the common breeding ground for purple sandpipers. The breeding sites are found across Northern Europe including Svalbard, the Faroes, north Asia, the northern islands of Arctic Canada, Greenland, and Iceland. Stony plateaus, coastal beaches, upland ridges, and moorlands are among their nesting grounds.

Fun fact, purple sandpipers are actually Svalbard’s only breeding shorebird!

The cup-like nest is usually set in a depression on the ground or among rocks, and lined with grass, lichens, or mass. This allows the nest to blend with the surroundings, remaining invisible to predators. In general, the egg-laying period is between late May to early July. 

Habitat and behaviour

The purple sandpiper is monogamous and the most engrossing aspect of the courtship behaviour in males is the flight display. The male circles high above the territory, delivering a song and often fluttering their wings. Another courtship ritual is chasing a female over the ground with one wing raised. 

The female lays 3-4 eggs and it takes around 21-22 days for the eggs to hatch. The timing of the egg laying is critical as it has to match the period of maximum food availability during the brief Arctic summer. The male bird takes up the responsibility of raising the chicks. Both parents remain highly protective of the nest and hardly leave the eggs exposed. 

Walking along the rugged seashore around Svalbard, you might find a purple sandpiper with an injured wing running away. Don’t get alarmed as feigning injury is part of a ‘distraction display’ to protect the nest and lead the predator away. This means you are too close to a nest and it is best to walk away to reduce any risk of exposing it.

Generally, this stocky sandpiper has a calm bearing. In some areas, they are not fearful of a close human approach, especially if they are accustomed to it. That makes them one of the favourite subjects for photographers during Svalbard photo tours.

In late fall, the sandpiper migrates south to the warmer zones of the Atlantic coast. Some even venture into the interior regions around the Great Lakes. Presently, their migration routes to the wintering grounds are not fully understood. 

Interestingly, purple sandpipers have an extreme affinity towards their wintering nest site. Pairs have been known to return to the same nesting site for years.

What Purple Sandpipers eat

The rocky shorelines and tidal zones are the feeding grounds of purple sandpipers. They feed mainly on molluscs, crustaceans, and winkles The long bill with a slight curve helps them find food from the deep crevices in rocks. 

During the breeding season, they also consume insects like spiders and some plant material. The chicks feed on soft-bodied invertebrates during their growing years.

Being hardy shorebirds, the purple sandpipers are not deterred by strong waves while searching for food on shorelines. They can even maintain balance on algae-covered slippery rocks to access food sources.

Best time of year to see Purple Sandpipers in Svalbard

These birds migrate in late May to early June making this the best time to photograph purple sandpipers in Svalbard. Besides, you get to capture some other unique Arctic birds in Svalbard during that period. These include species like the snow bunting, red phalarope, little auk, Arctic Skua, and the Atlantic Puffin.

Even with a telephoto lens, you will need the sun to light the birds up against the dark-coloured rocks in the background. May is the best season as you get 24-hour sunlight and steady weather conditions ideal for wildlife photography in Svalbard.

Conservation

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species marks the purple sandpiper as a species of ‘least concern’. Since their primary breeding ground is the sparsely populated tundra belt, they are least affected by environmental degradation related to human activity.

Planning your trip to Svalbard

Located in-between mainland Norway and the North Pole, Svalbard is covered by numerous glaciers, mountains and fjords. Since it experiences polar nights for more than three months a year, the best period to visit is between May and September.

Exploring the wild frontiers of the Arctic from Svalbard requires the service of professional guides. The best way to go for a polar trip is on an expedition cruise accompanied by a team of experts who can enhance your polar experience.

From dog sledging to getting close-ups of the King of the Arctic - the polar bear - a Svalbard trip is all about nature-based experiences. For photographers, every second of a Svalbard photo tour is a special opportunity to snap away and capture the vastness of the dynamic landscapes.

Visit Svalbard with Secret Atlas

An Expedition Micro Cruise to Svalbard with Secret Atlas takes you into the heart of this magical land during the best season for wildlife photography. With a small group of 12 explorers led by 3 guides, we offer the best available guide-to-guest ratio. 

Designed by photographers, this trip will provide you with breathtaking photo opportunities to capture the loveliest of wildlife sightings. We care about the fragile Arctic ecology and sustainability remains at the heart of all our operations. 

So, we strictly follow the guidelines set by AECO to ensure a minimum impact on the environment at every step.

To find out more about this incredible journey, connect with us.