red-backed sandpiper

noun

: a widely distributed rather small sandpiper (Erolia alpina) that is typically cinnamon to rusty brown above, often variously streaked or marked with black (as on the abdomen), and largely white below, has a long and downcurved bill, breeds in northern or artic regions, and winters chiefly in the southern U.S. and around the Mediterranean

called also dunlin

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!