Common Sandpiper Bird Facts (Actitis hypoleucos)

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

Resident

Breeding

Non-breeding

Passage

Vagrant

Distribution by Region

Species that can be found in the area throughout the year

Albania Algeria Andorra Angola Australia Austria Bahrain Bangladesh Belgium Benin Bhutan Botswana Brunei Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cambodia Cameroon Cape Verde Central African Republic Chad China Christmas Island Comoros Congo Côte D'Ivoire Czech Republic Democratic Republic of the Congo Denmark Djibouti East Timor (Timor-Leste) Egypt Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Eswatini Ethiopia Finland France Gabon Gambia Germany Ghana Greece Guinea Guinea-Bissau Hong Kong India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Israel Italy Japan Kenya Kuwait Laos Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Luxembourg Macao Macedonia Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Mauritania Mauritius Morocco Mozambique Myanmar Namibia Nepal Netherlands New Caledonia Niger Nigeria Norway Oman Pakistan Palestine Papua New Guinea Philippines Poland Portugal Qatar Réunion Romania Russia Rwanda Sao Tome and Principe Saudi Arabia Senegal Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa South Korea Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Sweden Switzerland Syria Taiwan Tanzania Thailand The United Kingdom Togo Tunisia Turkey Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates Vietnam Western Sahara Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe

Species that are present in the area during their breeding season

Afghanistan Armenia Azerbaijan Belarus Bosnia and Herzegovina Croatia Estonia Georgia Hungary Kazakhstan Kyrgyzstan Latvia Liechtenstein Lithuania Moldova Mongolia Montenegro North Korea Russia Serbia Tajikistan Turkmenistan Uzbekistan

Species that are present in the area outside their breeding season

Cyprus Gibraltar Micronesia

Species that pass through the area during migration

Jordan South Sudan

Species that appear infrequently (rare) and unpredictably outside their normal range

Faroe Islands Fiji Iceland Kiribati New Zealand Samoa United States of America

Behaviour and Ecology

Bird Attributes

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Bird Attributes Explained

Our bird attributes system rates various aspects of a bird's capabilities on a scale of 0-100, based on data from field observations, scientific studies, and expert knowledge.

Attribute Categories:

Agility: Manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.
Strength: Physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.
Adaptability: Ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.
Aggressiveness: Territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.
Endurance: Stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.

Understanding the Ratings:

0-20: Very Low
21-40: Low
41-60: Average
61-80: High
81-100: Very High

Remember, these attributes are relative to other bird species and don't necessarily indicate superiority.

Hover over the icon next to each attribute for more information.

Tap the icon next to each attribute for more information.

Agility 85

Agility

Reflects the bird's manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.

The Common Sandpiper exhibits remarkable agility, demonstrated by its distinctive 'teetering' walk and ability to navigate varied waterside terrains. Its quick, nimble movements along shorelines and capacity for swift, low flights over water indicate high manoeuvrability.

Strength 40

Strength

Indicates the bird's physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.

Whilst not particularly strong for its size, the Common Sandpiper possesses adequate strength for its lifestyle. It can carry out long-distance migrations and perform display flights, but its small size and reliance on agility over power suggest moderate strength.

Adaptability 80

Adaptability

Represents the bird's ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.

This species shows high adaptability, thriving in diverse habitats from freshwater bodies to coastal areas across multiple continents. Its ability to swim and dive when threatened, despite lacking webbed feet, further demonstrates its adaptiveness.

Aggressiveness 30

Aggressiveness

Measures the bird's territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.

Common Sandpipers are not notably aggressive birds. They're often seen foraging alone or in small groups and are more likely to flee from threats than confront them. However, they may display some territorial behaviour during breeding season.

Endurance 75

Endurance

Reflects the bird's stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.

The Common Sandpiper demonstrates considerable endurance, particularly during its long-distance migrations. Some individuals can fly up to 6,000 km during these journeys, indicating robust stamina. Their ability to breed at elevations up to 3,000 metres also suggests good endurance.

Diet

Common Sandpipers primarily feed on small invertebrates such as insects, crustaceans, and worms. They forage by picking prey from the ground or water's surface, often running along shorelines and probing in shallow water with their bills.

Behaviour

Common Sandpipers are known for their distinctive 'teetering' walk, constantly bobbing their tails up and down. When flying, they exhibit a characteristic flight pattern with stiff, bowed wings and rapid wingbeats. These birds are often seen alone or in small groups, foraging along water edges.

Vocalisation

The Common Sandpiper's call is a distinctive, high-pitched 'tweet-tweet' or 'swee-wee'. During the breeding season, males produce a trilling song in flight, described as a rapid series of 'ti-ti-ti' notes. Their alarm call is a sharp, piercing 'peet'.

Nesting & Breeding

Common Sandpipers form monogamous pairs during the breeding season, which typically begins in May. Males perform display flights to attract females, often calling loudly.

Nests are usually shallow scrapes on the ground, lined with grass and leaves, often hidden in vegetation near water. Females lay 3-4 eggs, which are pale buff with brown spots.

Both parents incubate the eggs for about 21-22 days. Chicks are precocial and can leave the nest shortly after hatching, fledging after 26-28 days.

Conservation and Status

Global Conservation Status

Least Concern ^[1]

While listed as Least Concern globally, Common Sandpipers face threats from habitat loss and degradation. Conservation efforts focus on protecting wetlands and coastal areas, particularly their breeding grounds in northern Europe and wintering sites in Africa and Asia.

Population Data

Global Population Estimate

2,600,000 - 3,200,000 mature individuals ^[2]

Global Population Trend

^[3]

Trend data may be uncertain or fluctuating

Additional Information

Quick Facts

Other names:

Eurasian Sandpiper

Family:

Scolopacidae

Average Lifespan

8 to 10 years

Predators

Common Sandpipers are preyed upon by various birds of prey, including falcons and hawks, as well as mammals such as foxes and stoats.

Did You Know?

Common Sandpipers can swim and dive when threatened despite not having webbed feet.
They have been known to return to the same breeding site for multiple years.
Some individuals can fly up to 6,000 km during migration.