Wood Sandpiper

Photo by Peter Duymelinc

Tringa glareola

Identification

The Wood Sandpiper is a fairly small wader with a rather attenuated 'necky' appearance. It has brown upperparts and generally white underparts. The most striking plumage feature are the bold white supercilia, which show well behind the eye. The supercilia are defined by a dark brown 'cap' and a bold broad eye-stripe. It is quite a 'leggy' bird, not unlike a redshank, though smaller. The legs are usually pale yellowish, but can appear quite dark when the bird is feeding in mud, or in dull light. The bill is about the same length as the head and straight. The head shape is almost squarish in profile, and the neck can be extended or retracted a certain amount, changing the overall appearance. The rump has a square white patch between the dark tip of the tail and the back. The plumage is not unlike the American lesser yellow legs, though the supercilia are bolder. However, the lesser yellow legs is even more 'leggy' and can remind one of a stilt.

Distribution

Breeds in northern Europe and northern Asia; winters in southern Africa, southern Asia and Australia.

Taxonomy

Monotypic.

Habitat

Wetlands.

Behaviour

Wood sandpiper tends to be a rather active bird, often found on the margins of quite small pools, or wading hurriedly through the shallows. It often teeters in the manner of a common sandpiper, though perhaps not quite so frequently. As it advances it pecks briefly to one side or the other, picking up tiny particles of food from the surface of the mud.

The diet includes insects, worms, spiders, shellfish and small fish.

4 eggs are laid and are incubated for 22-23 days by the female. The young fledge after 29-31 days.

Vocalisation

<flashmp3>Tringa glareola (song).mp3</flashmp3>
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External Links

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