Common Sandpiper

Actitis hypoleucos

A lively shoreline dancer, this small wader bobs and teeters along waterways worldwide, flashing its distinctive white wing-bar in flight.

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Visual Identification

Appearance

The Common Sandpiper displays a brown upperside with a distinctive white underside. Its back and wings have a mottled brown pattern, while the breast has fine brown streaks. The bird has a medium-length, straight bill and olive-green legs.

There is little difference between males and females. Juveniles resemble adults but have buff-tipped wing coverts and a more barred appearance on the upperparts.

Size

Length

18cm to 20cm

Wingspan

32cm to 35cm

Weight

40g to 60g

Colours

Males and females have similar plumage

Primary Colour

Brown White

Secondary Colour

Grey

Beak Colour

Dark Grey

Leg Colour

Olive

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Common Sandpiper is not typically found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Common Sandpiper is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Common Sandpiper can be found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Common Sandpiper can be found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Common Sandpiper is not typically found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Common Sandpiper is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Common Sandpiper is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Common Sandpiper is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Common Sandpiper is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Common Sandpiper is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Common Sandpiper is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Common Sandpiper is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

Common Sandpipers inhabit many freshwater and coastal habitats, including rivers, lakes, estuaries, and rocky shores. They breed across Europe and Asia, from the UK to Japan.

During winter, they migrate to Africa, southern Asia, and Australia. They are summer visitors in the UK, arriving in April and departing by September, with some birds overwintering in southern England.

Elevation Range

Up to 3,000 meters

Climate zones

Temperate, Tropical, Subtropical

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Common Sandpiper. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons