DUNLIN

About this heritage

Here lives the dunlin, or Calidris alba, a small shorebird of the family Scolopacidae. It is recognized by its very pale plumage outside the breeding season, its short and robust bill, and its black legs without a visible hind toe.

With luck, you may observe it on the shore running alongside the waves, capturing small invertebrates such as crustaceans and bivalves. However, we must remember that nature is ever-changing: although this species visits the estuary mainly in autumn and winter, its observation cannot always be guaranteed.

Originating from the Arctic tundra, where it nests on the ground among stones and low vegetation, the dunlin undertakes long migrations to reach these coasts. Its presence reminds us of the importance of the Miño estuary as an essential refuge for thousands of migratory birds.