adult

adult upperwing European distribution feeding

Identification

The Green Sandpiper is closely related to the Wood and Common Sandpipers but is the biggest and bulkiest in this group. They almost invariably look contrastingly dark above and light below, indeed almost black and white, with the dark head and breast coming to an abrupt end level with the bottom edge of the wings, isolating the white belly. The wings and mantle show only faint pale spots and there is a striking white line from the bill, round the eye and back again. Green Sandpipers move rather slowly and frequently bob like Common Sandpipers. In flight they again look black-and-white, the white rump contrasting with the dark back and dark underwings almost like a big House Martin.

Habitat

Breeds in damp forests. Winters on muddy streams, ditches and marshes.

Migration

Birds leave their breeding grounds from June onwards (females migrating first), wintering in western Europe, Turkey, north Africa and south of the Sahara. Birds return in March-May.

This information is taken from the BirdFile on the appropriate BirdGuides DVD-ROM. As well as video and sounds, our CD- and DVD-ROMs contain additional text on Voice, Sexing, Ageing, Food, Nests and Eggs and more.

For the purposes of our bird news services, Green Sandpiper is classed as Common: common species, including species that are certain or probable escapees from captivity when occurring in the British Isles. (Note that rarity levels are currently applied nationally and may not reflect local variations in abundance.)

Pennington Flash, Manc'r 31/08/2010	Old Moor, S Yorks 31/08/2010	Venus Pool, Shrops 31/08/2010	Cley, Norfolk 27/08/2010	Big Wtrs NR, Northumbs 24/08/2010
Belfast Lough RSPB, Antrim 25/08/2010	Belfast Lough RSPB, Antrim 25/08/2010	Middlebere, Dorset 24/08/2010	Middlebere, Dorset 24/08/2010	Cley, Norfolk 15/08/2010

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Green Sandpiper breeds in the following countries (Bird News Extra subscribers will see population statistics and information on trends for each country):

Austria
Azerbaijan
Belarus
Bulgaria
Croatia
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
Georgia
Germany
Latvia
Lithuania
Macedonia
Norway
Poland
Romania
Russia
Sweden
Ukraine

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	Green and Wood Sandpipers	Wednesday 8th August 2007
	Both species are a delight for visitors to wetland areas during passage periods, though they can sometimes cause identification difficulties for the unwary.

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