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ExploreBirds

Common Sandpiper

Actitis hypoleucos

The Common Sandpiper is a small bird that loves to live near water. It has a lovely brown back and white belly, and it often hops around the shore looking for food.

Habitat: Coastal areas

Appearance

The Common Sandpiper is a small wader with dull olive-brown upperparts and clean white underparts, featuring a distinct white stripe extending from the shoulder onto the wing. Its dusky breast sides create a slight smudge, distinguishing it from other sandpipers.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassAvesOrderCharadriiformesFamilyScolopacidaeGenusActitis
Common Sandpiper
Photo: JJ Harrison ( https://www.jjharrison.com.au/ )CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsView original ↗
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Common Sandpiper

Category

Birds

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

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Interesting facts

Baby sandpipers are expert swimmers and can even dive underwater to hide from danger!

Its constant tail-bobbing is so unique, scientists call it 'tail-teetering'!

Listen closely, their high-pitched call sounds just like 'twee-wee-wee'!

They build simple nests right on the ground, often tucked away near rocks or plants!

Special abilities

Ability

Tail-Teeterer

Common Sandpiper can constantly bob its tail because this unique "teetering" motion helps it balance on uneven riverbanks while foraging.

Ability

Agile Flyer

Common Sandpiper can fly with stiff, bowed wings and shallow wingbeats that helps it navigate swiftly over water and land.

Ability

Riverside Forager

Common Sandpiper can quickly snatch small invertebrates from shallow water because its keen eyesight and quick movements help it catch prey efficiently.

Ability

Camouflage Master

Common Sandpiper has mottled brown upperparts that help them blend seamlessly into the rocky and sandy edges of rivers, hiding from predators.

Measurements & details

Length
18-20 cm
Wingspan
32-35 cm
Weight
0.033-0.084 kg
Lifespan
2-12 years
Speed
60 km/h
Clutch Size
3-5
Incubation
21-22 days
Migration Distance
6000 km

Diet & Feeding

They mostly eat small insects and other tiny creatures found near water.

Age differences: Young chicks are fed small insects by their parents before learning to forage for themselves.

Primary Foods

  • Aquatic insects
  • Beetles
  • Spiders
  • Small crustaceans
  • Worms

Foraging Method

  • Foraging

Ecological connections

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Always watch birds from a distance and be quiet so you don't scare them away.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to identify Common Sandpiper?

Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

How long is Common Sandpiper?

18-20 cm

What is Common Sandpiper's wingspan?

32-35 cm

How much does Common Sandpiper weigh?

0.033-0.084 kg

How long does Common Sandpiper live?

2-12 years

How fast can Common Sandpiper move?

60 km/h

What does Common Sandpiper eat?

They mostly eat small insects and other tiny creatures found near water.

Where is Common Sandpiper usually found?

Coastal areas

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