About the Stilt Sandpiper
The stilt sandpiper is a small shorebird. The scientific name is from Ancient Greek; the genus name kalidris or skalidris is a term used by Aristotle for a gray-colored waterside bird. The specific himantopus means "strap foot" or "thong foot", and also refers to the stilt.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
ID tip
The stilt sandpiper resembles the curlew sandpiper in its long bill, long neck, pale supercilium and white rump. It is readily distinguished from that species by its straighter bill (only slightly curved, not obviously so), its longer and greenish-yellow (not black) legs, and in flight, by the lack of a wingbar. It also lacks an obvious wing bar in flight. Breeding adults are distinctive, heavily barred with blackish bars on a white background beneath, and with reddish-orange patches above and below the white supercilium. The back is brown with darker feather centres.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Australia, Netherlands, Portugal, Germany, France, Taiwan, Japan, Hungary, New Zealand.
When to see it
Peak activity in August · a variable species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Baird's SandpiperCalidris bairdiiAdults have black legs and a short, straight, thin dark bill.
White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollisThe white-rumped sandpiper is a relatively small bird measuring only 15–18 cm (5.9–7.1 in), with a wingspan of 36–38 cm (14–15 in).
Temminck's StintCalidris temminckiiThese birds are very small waders, at 13.5–15 cm (5.3–5.9 in) length.
Side by side: Little Stint vs Stilt Sandpiper · Curlew Sandpiper vs Stilt Sandpiper · Baird's Sandpiper vs Stilt Sandpiper · Stilt Sandpiper vs White-rumped Sandpiper · Stilt Sandpiper vs Temminck's Stint
Learn the Stilt Sandpiper for real
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