additional the spray-runner still is fitting 2 types into this subfamily of the plovers. However, the systematic assignment of the spray-runner is controversial; maybe it belongs into the nearer relationship of the sandpipers sooner. Also, the stone-tomes often are put to the snipes.
Spread The black-cobblestone-tome (Arenaria melanocephala) broods only at west and South-Alaska's coast, during which equally-big actual stone-tome (A.interpres) broods with 23 cm of total-length in the Tundrengebieten and at the coasts of the northern Eurasia and northwest-like North America as well as on pointed-mountains and Greenland.
In the German coast-area, stone-tomes still nested in the middle of the previous century of the North-Frisian islands; about the turn of the century, they still were widespread in Denmark. Also in the Kieler firth and the Lübecker bay as well as on Fehmarn, stone-tomes were earlier than brood-birds at home. To the train, they frequently appear at Central Europe's coasts. Stone-tomes hike far southwards to the winter with what the main-hibernation-area of the Atlantic area near the British islands begins and stretches as far as to Africa's South-top. In the indopazifischen area, stone-tomes of the red sea spend the winter as far as after Madagascar and eastward as far as into the Indian area and to west-Australia, while further populations as far as to Tasmania, New Guinea and into the Polynesian island-world moves.
Shape Stone-tomes are powerful, penetrated "Limikolen" (weight): 75-160 g, with short, at the side compressed and piled up beak as well as, during the reproductive-period, a strikingly brown, black and white patterned plumage. The quite short legs are colored strikingly orange-red.
Nutrition In the mudflat, on sandy beaches, coast-fortifications and reefs, stone-tomes look for insects and their larvae, small-cancers and mollusks. But also ringlet-worms, small fish and dead animals don't spurn it. Vegetable food amounts a big share in the spring and is also picked up gladly otherwise. Stone-tomes peck its loot-animals of the ground on; only rarely, they poke around also in the underground or dig a little. Especially frequently, they turn gravel-shingle, seaweed and other washed up things with the beak to reach the hidden loot-animals. Stone-tomes often turn over stones of remarkable size on that occasion or vanish completely under big seaweed-carpets. They like to also scan rock-columns after hidden loot. From time to time, several stone-tomes overturn bigger objects together. The birds apply the same lateral head and beak-movement with mussels solid-tacked at rocks and snails; also they dig deep holes by away-hurling the sand at the side.
Reproduction Stone-tomes have its Nistplatz in free terrain on small islands, at riversides and coasts. Males occupy its brood-precinct soon after the arrival and mark it as well as through Imponiergesten at the ground also as through sings and defense-flights. Later, also the female participates here. Perform courtship display and stone-tomes carry out pair-formation probably only in the brood-area. The female chooses the nest-location in the protection of ground-plants, densely with stones or jetsam, and molds the nest-hollow during the deposit of the eggs. The extended hollow (approximately 4 cm deep and 10 cm in the diameter) is padded more or less strongly (at all sometimes not) according to location with plant-material.
The nest consists of 4 strongly sharpened eggs (4,2x3 cm) and becomes from both alto-birds together, usually from the 3. Egg at, for 22-23 days erbrütet. The boys carry a dense, brown-white Dunenkleid and are Nestflüchter. they are looked after by both alto-birds, however the male takes over the bigger share soon. Already after the first life-day, the young stone-tomes leave its nest and look independently for food. The alto-birds stop after approximately 2 weeks, its offspring to hudern. The boys with 24-26 days become fully-fledged; however, they can fly already after 20 days if necessary. Often, the male bird remains even longer with them while the female leaves already the hatcheries.
Scientific name: