Biometrics of Sanderlings Calidris alba from the Taimyr

Biometric data were collected for Sanderlings breeding at northern Taimyr in 1982–92. They allowed the calculation of discriminant functions, using wing, bill and (or) total head lengths, for sexing Sanderlings, belonging to Siberian population. Geographic comparisons revealed that birds from Taimyr have shorter bills than birds on South African wintering grounds, which leaves the problem of origin of long‐billed South‐African Sanderlings unsolved. Sanderlings had minimal body mass in pre‐nesting and brood‐rearing periods, and noticeably larger mass during incubation. Females were consistently heavier than males (regardless of size). The mean body mass fell in late seasons due to a probable decrease in food availability.