Common Sandpiper

Latin Name: 
Actitis hypoleucos
Size: 
20cm
Description: 

Sexes alike. Olive-brown above, more ash-brown and streaked brown on head and neck sides; brown rump; white below; lightly streaked brown on breast; in flight, narrow white wing bar and brown rump; white ‘hook’ at shoulder; In summer, darker above and speckled. One to 3 birds, either by themselves or scattered amidst mixed wader flocks; quite active; makes short dashes, bobbing and wagging short tail; usually flies low over water, the rapid wingbeats
interspersed with short glides (‘vibrating flight’) helping identification of the species.

Habitat: 
freshwater marshes, lakes, tidal areas, creeks.
Food: 
crustaceans, insects, molluscs.
Distribution: 
breeds in Himalayas, Kashmir to Uttarakhand to about 3,000m; winter visitor all over the area.
Call: 
Call Description: 
shrill twee…tse…tse…tse… note, usually when flushed; longish trilling song.