Bird Guide

Red-necked Stint vs Sharp-tailed Sandpiper

Red-necked Stint (Calidris ruficollis)

Red-necked Stint

Calidris ruficollis

Small27 gGrassland

These birds are among the smallest of waders, very similar to the little stint, Calidris minuta, with which they were once considered conspecific. The red-necked stint's small size, fine dark bill, dark legs and quicker movements distinguish this species from all waders except the other dark-legged stints. It measures 13–17 cm (5.1–6.7 in) in length, 28–37 cm (11–15 in) in wingspan, and 21–51 g (0.74–1.80 oz) in weight.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: patrickkavanagh · CC BY 2.0
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper (Calidris acuminata)

Sharp-tailed Sandpiper

Calidris acuminata

Medium66 gWetland

A small-medium wader, the portly sandpiper has a pot belly, flat back and somewhat drawn-out rear end. It has a mottled chestnut-brown upper body with sharp-looking feathers with a dark centre, a chestnut cap on its head and a brown stripe through each eye. Its bill is dark grey to black and straight, and its legs are olive- to yellow-coloured. The underparts are white or paler in colour, with the mottling similar to that on the breast and sides of the belly. The plumage is more vivid during the breeding season and duller in its winter plumage.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: William Harland (william-harland) · CC BY 4.0

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Red-necked Stint and Sharp-tailed Sandpiper.