Actitis hypoleucos
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Mass
~50 g
Habitat
Wetlands and marshes
Diet
Fish and aquatic animals
How to recognize it
The common sandpiper is a small shorebird that stands out more for its restless manner than for size or color. It looks plain at first glance, with pale underparts, brownish upperparts, and short pale legs.
It is usually seen alone and keeps moving, running along the water’s edge, bobbing, and flicking its tail. In flight it stays low and steady over water, and its sharp call is easy to notice.
It uses riverbanks, streams, and quiet waters, where it feeds in shallow water. It picks up insects, spiders, small crustaceans, and mollusks, and in Europe it is present from April to October before moving south for winter.
Quick Facts
Listen to the call
The common sandpiper is a small shorebird that stands out more for its restless manner than for size or color. It looks plain at first glance, with pale underparts, brownish upperparts, and short pale legs.
It is usually seen alone and keeps moving, running along the water’s edge, bobbing, and flicking its tail. In flight it stays low and steady over water, and its sharp call is easy to notice.
It uses riverbanks, streams, and quiet waters, where it feeds in shallow water. It picks up insects, spiders, small crustaceans, and mollusks, and in Europe it is present from April to October before moving south for winter.
