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Common Sandpiper
Latin Name:
Actitis hypoleucos
Category:
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.
IUCN:
At IITK: