What does the Dunlin eat?

The Dunlin's diet shapes where and when you'll find it. Understanding what it eats helps you predict where to look.

Diet overview

Carnivore (primarily invertebrates)

How it forages

Forages by probing its bill into soft substrates (mud, sand) to extract invertebrates. Also picks prey from the surface. Often feeds in large, dense flocks, moving synchronously across mudflats. Diet includes marine worms, small crustaceans, mollusks, and insect larvae.

When it feeds

Diurnal, but also forages at night during low tide, especially on moonlit nights.

Explore the Dunlin