Aquatic Birds

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Napping

A spotted sandpiper taking a nap. Interesting fact: the females practice polyandry. She wins and defends a territory. Then she will take up to 4 mates and lay a clutch of eggs for each. The males then incubate the eggs and care for the young. Since the female can store sperm for a month, the eggs she lays for one male may genetically be the product of a different male from an earlier mating.
Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius)

Actitis macularius Spotted Sandpiper white rock lake dallas texas lower spillway steps shore bird aquatic bird aquatic water fowl sandpiper polyandry