Temminck's Stint
Least ConcernCalidris temminckii
Visual Identification
Temminck's Stint
Appearance
Temminck's Stint is a small wader with brown upperparts and greyish underparts. It has a short, straight black bill and yellowish-green legs. In breeding plumage, it shows rufous edges on its back feathers.
Non-breeding adults are plainer, with uniform grey-brown upperparts. Males and females are similar in appearance year-round. However, females are generally larger.
Juveniles resemble non-breeding adults but have buff-edged wing coverts, creating a scaly appearance on the back. A buff-brown band is visible across the breast.
Size
Length
13cm to 15cm
Wingspan
34cm to 37cm
Weight
22g to 35g
Colours
Males and females have similar plumage
Primary Colour
Brown Grey
Secondary Colour
White
Beak Colour
Black
Leg Colour
Yellow Green
Habitat and Distribution
Habitats
Woodland
Garden
Wetland
Coastal
Urban
Farmland
Grassland
Desert
Tundra
Rainforest
Mountain
Savanna
Distribution
Temminck's Stint breeds in the Arctic tundra of northern Europe and Asia. Russia is home to the majority of the world's breeding population. During migration and winter, it frequents a variety of wetland habitats, including mudflats, marshes, and the edges of lakes and rivers.
In the UK, it is a scarce passage migrant, seen mainly in spring and autumn. Small numbers overwinter in southern Europe, Africa, and southern Asia.
Elevation Range
Up to 4,000 meters
Climate zones
Arctic, Temperate, Tropical
Distribution Map
Distribution by Region
Behaviour and Ecology
Bird Attributes
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Diet
Temminck's Stint primarily feeds on insects, including flies, beetles, and their larvae. It also consumes small crustaceans, worms, molluscs, and occasionally seeds.
The bird often forages by rapidly picking food items from the ground or water's surface; some prey is gained by probing into the wet mud with their relatively short bill, although this is less common.
Behaviour
Temminck's Stint is often solitary or found in small groups. It forages by picking insects and small invertebrates from the ground or shallow water.
During courtship, males perform aerial displays, flying in circles while calling.
Vocalisation
Temminck's Stint has a distinctive call, described as a high-pitched, trilling 'tirr-irr-irr', similar to the buzzy notes of a Grasshopper Warbler.
During breeding displays, males produce a repeated 'prrrt' sound. When alarmed, it may give a sharp 'pit' call.
Nesting & Breeding
Breeding occurs in the Arctic tundra from late May to July. Males perform aerial displays to attract females, flying in circles while calling.
The nest is a shallow scrape on the ground, often near water and lined with leaves and grass. The female typically lays 4 olive-green eggs with brown spots.
Both parents incubate the eggs for about 22 days. Chicks are precocial and can leave the nest shortly after hatching, fledging after 14-16 days.
The pair bond lasts for less than a week, and it’s common for females to lay in two or three nest scrapes simultaneously, where each clutch may be from a different male.
Lifespan
The Temminck's Stint typically lives for 7 years, with a maximum recorded lifespan of 12.9 years.
Like all birds, lifespan can be affected by factors including predation, habitat quality, disease, and access to food sources.
Conservation and Status
Global Conservation Status
While currently listed as Least Concern, Temminck's Stint faces threats from habitat loss and climate change.
Conservation efforts focus on protecting breeding and stopover sites along its migration routes.
Birdwatching Tips
- Look for Temminck's Stint on muddy edges of freshwater habitats
- Observe its distinctive bobbing motion while foraging
- Listen for its trilling call during the breeding season
- In the UK, watch for it during spring and autumn migrations
Additional Information
Quick Facts
Other names:
Temminck's Sandpiper
Family:
ScolopacidaePredators
Main predators include Arctic foxes, skuas, gulls, and birds of prey such as falcons and owls.
Did You Know?
- Temminck's Stint was named after Dutch naturalist Coenraad Jacob Temminck.
- It's one of the smallest waders in its range, often mistaken for a sparrow at a distance.
- This bird can swim well and has been observed crossing small water bodies.
- Temminck’s stints used to breed in the UK but have all but disappeared as a native species, with only a handful of nesting pairs (and sometimes none) raising young in the Scottish Highlands each year.
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References
- 2 4
website: BirdLife International. 2019. Calidris temminckii. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019: e.T22693388A146637675.
View source - 3
report, 2015: Wetlands International
- 1
website, 2010: Fransson et al., EURING list of longevity records for European birds
View source