Wood Sandpiper Bird Facts (Tringa glareola)

Visual Identification

Appearance

The Wood Sandpiper is a small wader with a slender build. It has a brown-speckled upperpart, white underparts, and a prominent white eyebrow. The legs are yellowish-green, and the dark yellow bill is dark and straight, tipped with grey.

During the breeding season, adults develop darker, more heavily marked plumage. Females develop their breeding plumage slightly earlier in the season, which can be used as a key way to determine between the sexes.

Both sexes are alike in plumage, although females are slightly larger. Juveniles resemble adults but have buff-tinged upperparts with more prominent spotting.

Size

Length

19cm to 21cm

Wingspan

36cm to 40cm

Weight

50g to 90g

Colours

Males and females have similar plumage

Primary Colour

Brown White

Secondary Colour

Grey Buff

Beak Colour

Black Yellow Grey

Leg Colour

Green Yellow

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Wood Sandpiper is not typically found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Wood Sandpiper is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Wood Sandpiper can be found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Wood Sandpiper is not typically found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Wood Sandpiper is not typically found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Wood Sandpiper is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Wood Sandpiper can be found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Wood Sandpiper is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Wood Sandpiper is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Wood Sandpiper is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Wood Sandpiper is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Wood Sandpiper is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

Wood Sandpipers breed in subarctic and boreal regions across Europe and Asia. They prefer open wetlands, bogs, and marshy areas near woodlands. During migration, they can be found in a variety of freshwater habitats.

Up to 30 pairs of Wood Sandpipers breed in the UK each year, but these are limited to a small area of marshy land in the western Highlands of Scotland.

In winter, they migrate to Africa, southern Asia, and Australia. In the UK, they are passage migrants, seen mainly during spring and autumn migrations, with occasional winter sightings. Eastern and southern England report the most sightings during this time.

Elevation Range

Up to 3,000 meters

Climate zones

Temperate, Subarctic, Tropical

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Wood 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 Armenia Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahrain Belgium Benin Bhutan Bosnia and Herzegovina Brunei Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cape Verde Central African Republic Chad China Christmas Island Congo Côte D'Ivoire Czech Republic Democratic Republic of the Congo Denmark Djibouti East Timor (Timor-Leste) Egypt Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Eswatini Ethiopia Finland France Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Guinea Guinea-Bissau Hong Kong Hungary India Indonesia Iran Iraq Israel Japan Kazakhstan Kenya Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Laos Latvia Lesotho Liberia Libya Luxembourg Macedonia Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Mauritania Moldova Morocco Mozambique Myanmar Namibia Nepal Niger Nigeria North Korea Norway Oman Pakistan Papua New Guinea Philippines Poland Qatar Russia Rwanda Sao Tome and Principe Saudi Arabia Senegal Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Somalia South Africa South Korea Sri Lanka Sudan Sweden Switzerland Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand Togo Tunisia Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates Uzbekistan Vietnam Western Sahara Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe

Species that are present in the area during their breeding season

Belarus Iceland Lithuania Mongolia The United Kingdom Turkmenistan United States of America

Species that are present in the area outside their breeding season

Ireland Micronesia Portugal South Sudan Spain Turkey

Species that pass through the area during migration

Afghanistan Croatia Cyprus Greece Italy Jordan Lebanon Montenegro Palestine Romania Serbia Slovenia Syria

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

Antigua and Barbuda Barbados Bermuda Comoros Costa Rica Dominica Ecuador Faroe Islands Guadeloupe Guatemala Honduras Liechtenstein Martinique Mauritius Montserrat Nicaragua Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Trinidad and Tobago

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 Wood Sandpiper demonstrates high agility through its ability to perform aerial displays, swift flight during long-distance migrations, and its capacity to swim and dive when evading predators. Its slender build and adept foraging behaviour also contribute to its nimbleness.

Strength 40

Strength

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

As a small wader, the Wood Sandpiper possesses moderate strength relative to its size. It can carry out long-distance migrations and perform aerial displays, but it's not particularly powerful compared to larger birds.

Adaptability 90

Adaptability

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

Wood Sandpipers show remarkable adaptability, thriving in various habitats from subarctic regions to tropical climates. Their ability to nest both on the ground and occasionally in trees, coupled with their diverse diet and capacity to migrate vast distances, showcases their adaptable nature.

Aggressiveness 30

Aggressiveness

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

While Wood Sandpipers can be vocal when alarmed, they are generally not aggressive birds. They typically feed alone or in small, loose groups, suggesting a relatively peaceful disposition. However, they may display some territorial behaviour during breeding season.

Endurance 95

Endurance

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

The Wood Sandpiper exhibits exceptional endurance, undertaking long-distance migrations of up to 5,000 km (3,100 miles) between breeding and wintering grounds. This impressive feat, combined with their ability to thrive in diverse climates and elevations up to 3000 metres, demonstrates remarkable stamina and resilience.

Diet

Wood Sandpipers primarily feed on insects and their larvae, including mosquitoes, flies, spiders, and beetles. They also consume small crustaceans, molluscs, and occasionally small fish.

These birds forage by picking prey from the water's surface or probing in shallow mud.

Behaviour

Wood Sandpipers are often seen bobbing their heads and tail while foraging. They typically feed alone or in small, loose groups, probing the mud with their bills.

During migration, they form larger flocks and can be quite vocal, especially when alarmed.

Vocalisation

The Wood Sandpiper has a distinctive call, often described as a clear, ringing 'chiff-if-if' or 'giff-giff-giff'. Their call tends to carry far across long distances, both in the day and night.

During the breeding season, males produce a melodious song in flight, a series of repeated 'tlui-tlui-tlui' notes that can last for several minutes.

Nesting & Breeding

Wood Sandpipers form monogamous pairs during the breeding season, typically from May to July. Males perform aerial displays to attract mates, making circular flights while calling.

Nests are usually built on the ground, often near water and concealed in vegetation. The female lays 3-4 pale olive-green eggs with brown spots. Both parents take turns incubating the eggs.

Incubation lasts about 22-23 days, with both parents taking part. Chicks are precocial and can leave the nest shortly after hatching. They fledge after 26-28 days, becoming independent soon after. The male typically does most of the post-hatching parental care.

Conservation and Status

Global Conservation Status

Least Concern ^[1]

While the Wood Sandpiper is currently listed as Least Concern, it faces threats from habitat loss and degradation, particularly in its breeding and wintering grounds.

Conservation efforts focus on protecting wetland habitats and managing water levels in key areas.

Population Data

Global Population Estimate

3,100,000 - 3,500,000 individuals ^[2]

Global Population Trend

^[3]

Trend data may be uncertain or fluctuating

Additional Information

Quick Facts

Family:

Scolopacidae

Average Lifespan

7 to 9 years

Max Lifespan

11.7 years ^[4]

Predators

Main predators include birds of prey such as falcons and hawks, as well as foxes, weasels, and large fish in shallow waters.

Did You Know?

Wood Sandpipers can swim and dive to escape predators.
They have been known to nest in old thrush nests in trees.
Some individuals can migrate up to 5,000 km (3,100 miles) between breeding and wintering grounds.