Web page for Arctic Landscape Conservation Cooperative
The Red Knot, roselaari subspecies, is a relatively uncommon breeding shorebird in Arctic Alaska. They typically nest in coastal alpine habitats, preferring sparsely vegetated and broad alpine ridgelines and dome tops (Harrington 2001, J. Johnson, pers. comm.). There is little information on breeding season diet in this species however; field observations suggest a varied diet from insects to plant materials (e.g., lichens, leaves, berries) (Harrington 2001). During May, knots occur in coastal lagoons adjacent to suitable nesting habitats. These lagoons apparently serve as foraging and resting sites preceding dispersal to nesting areas (J. Johnson, pers. comm.). This subspecies winters at sites along the Pacific Coast from California down into Central America. Current population estimate for roselaari is 20,000 (Morrison et al. 2006) although newer estimates place it at approximately 17,000 (J. Lyons, unpublished data).
Vulnerability assessment fact-sheet for Red Knot.