adult

adult upperwing European distribution adult

Identification

The plumage of the Common Sandpiper is a dull, uniform brown above. It is plainer than the other sandpipers, although juveniles appear fairly barred. Diagnostically, the smudgy brown pattern on the breast doesn't extend as far down as the wings so there is always a loop of white in front of the bend of the wing. It has a hint of an eye-ring and supercilium, but neither are as conspicuous as in the other species of sandpiper. In flight, they show a pale wing bar and brown and white barring in the edge of the tail.

Habitat

Breeds mostly beside upland streams and lakes. Winters on estuaries and muddy streams.

Behaviour

The Common Sandpiper always behaves distinctively, whether at rest with its tail bobbing perpetually or in flight when it flies over the water with stiff bowed-down wings.

Migration

Most birds tend to winter south of the equator, although a few now regularly winter further north (such as in Britain). Birds return April-May and females begin the return migration as early as June.

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, Common 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.)

Venus Pool, Shrops 29/07/2010	Venus Pool, Shrops 29/07/2010	Venus Pool, Shrops 29/07/2010	Port Meadow, Oxon 23/07/2010	Port Meadow, Oxon 23/07/2010
Machrihanish, Argyll 18/07/2010	Garvald, Lothian 11/07/2010	Blashford Lakes, Hants 05/07/2010	Fishnish, Mull, Argyll 04/06/2010	Faseny Bridge, Lothian 07/07/2010

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

Albania
Armenia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Belarus
Belgium
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Britain
Bulgaria
Croatia
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Georgia
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Ireland
Italy
Latvia
Lithuania
Macedonia
Moldova
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Russia
Serbia and Montenegro
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey
Ukraine

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