Sandpipers · Shorebirds
Marsh Sandpiper
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Tringa stagnatilis
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How to recognize it
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22–26 cm, like a thrush
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Long, fine, straight bill
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Very long yellowish legs
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Grey or brown-grey upperparts, white underparts
About the species
Marsh Sandpiper looks slim and light, with very long yellowish legs and a fine, straight bill. It gives an impression of a neat, delicate wader rather than a heavy one.
It usually keeps to itself, seen alone or in small groups. It feeds by sweeping its bill through shallow water and mud, and during the breeding season it nests in colonies near water.
It breeds in wet meadows, steppe marshes, and taiga wetlands between eastern Europe and Central Asia. For winter it moves to Africa or South Asia, especially India, and feeds on insects and small aquatic invertebrates.
Where to find
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Along pond edges, canal banks, and flooded meadows — where mud meets shallow water, Marsh Sandpiper feeds with quick steps and a long bill probing the soft edge.
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By reedy shores with sparse sedges — usually alone or in a pair, moving quietly along the waterline and pausing often.
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On damp vacant lots and rain-soaked lawns — look for rapid sweeping through wet grass and tiny puddles after a shower.
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On low banks of city wetlands during migration — it may flush from the shallows in a short, light flight, flashing a white wedge up its back.
You might also see
Sources
- eBird — Tringa stagnatilis Sightings map and full description on eBird
- Wikipedia — Marsh sandpiper Encyclopedia article