Marsh Sandpiper vs Nordmann's Greenshank

Marsh Sandpiper

Tringa stagnatilis

Medium78 gWetland

The marsh sandpiper resembles a small elegant greenshank, with a long fine bill and very long yellowish legs. Like the greenshank, it is greyish brown in breeding plumage, paler in winter, and has a white wedge up its back that is visible in flight. However, it is more closely related to the common redshank and the wood sandpiper. Together, they form a group of smallish shanks which tend to have red or reddish legs, and in breeding plumage are generally a subdued, light brown above with some darker mottling, with a pattern of somewhat diffuse small brownish spots on the breast and neck.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Stephan Sprinz · CC BY 4.0

Nordmann's Greenshank

Tringa guttifer

Medium158 gCoastal

Nordmann's greenshank is a medium-sized sandpiper, at 29–32 cm (11–13 in) long, with a slightly upturned, bicoloured bill, and relatively short yellow legs. Breeding adults have darker plumage than their non-breeding counterparts. These adults often appear boldly marked, with dark brown spangling on their back, chest, and head and a white underbelly.They have a heavily streaked head and upper neck; broad, blackish, crescentic spots on lower neck and breast; and darker lores. Breeding adult bills are darker and less obviously bicolored as well.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Kalvin Chan · CC BY 4.0

Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Marsh Sandpiper and Nordmann's Greenshank.