Hallgrimsson G.T., Summers R.W., Etheridge B. & Swann R.L. (2012) The winter range of Nearctic Purple Sandpipers Calidris maritima on the East Atlantic flyway. ARDEA 100 (1): 13-18

Iceland has a large resident population of Purple Sandpipers Calidris maritima, but is also believed to be a wintering area for other populations and is a stop-over site for migrants. To determine the wintering areas of those that prepare for westward migration to the Nearctic in spring, Purple Sandpipers were colour-ringed on the coast of southwest Iceland in May 2003 and 2005. We searched for colour-ringed birds along the coasts of Iceland, the European mainland and Britain, particularly in winter 2005/06. Out of 326 marked birds, 82 were re-sighted during 2003 to 2009, of which 69 were seen during winter (October to March) 2005/06. Most sightings (55) in winter 2005/06 were from southwest Iceland, extending the known winter range of this population to Iceland. Resightings from northern Scotland confirmed the evidence from biometrics that this wintering population originates from the Nearctic. The maximum number of colour-marked Purple Sandpipers in Britain and Ireland in winter 2005/06 was estimated at about 65, which was approximately a quarter of the marked sample estimated to be alive. Therefore, the majority of the colour-ringed birds must have wintered elsewhere, most likely in Iceland. There was no evidence of sexual segregation according to whether they wintered in Iceland or Britain. However, those that were colour-ringed before 15 May were more likely to be seen in Iceland than in Britain, whereas those colour-ringed after 15 May were more likely to be seen in Britain, indicating that the migration from Britain takes place mainly after mid-May. Although there have been no ringing recoveries, biometry data suggest that Purple Sandpipers that prepare for westward migration in Iceland in spring, breed in Canada. This population shows a unique winter range for a wader that includes Greenland, Iceland and northwest Europe along the East Atlantic flyway.