Dunlin

The Dunlin is the most common small wader on European coasts in winter. It has a plump body, black legs, and a bill that curves slightly downward. It breeds in the Arctic and in temperate marshes. It is a highly social bird. It forms massive, synchronized flocks on mudflats, coastal shores, and tidal wetlands.

Dunlins perform spectacular aerial maneuvers. When a predator appears, thousands of birds rise and turn in perfect harmony. They feed by rapidly probing the mud with a 'sewing machine' motion. This helps them find worms and crustaceans. They often mix with other small waders like Plovers.