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Small bicolored sandpiper which often bobs its tail in a distinctively wagtail-like manner.
WA: Rare; NT: Vulnerable
At a glance
FamilySandpipers and Allies
SizeSmall
RarityCommon
HabitatMudflats, saltmarsh, estuaries, beaches, lagoons, and shallow inland wetlands.
Best timeMost reliable in Northern Territory from September to October.
Sounds
Sound sampleRecorded by Petter Westberg
Range map
Range map
1762visible hotspots
29857visible records
6states
SparseModerateDense hotspot
Aggregated occurance data is sourced from 14 different actively-updating datasets including eBird Australia, iNaturalist Australia, BirdLife Australia, and multiple state-based bird surveys through Atlas of Living Australia.
Species notes
Overview
Plain brown with white underparts; distinguished from bulkier and rounder-headed Green Sandpiper by a prominent white spur at the shoulder.
Behavior
Found in a variety of wetland habitats; breeds on stony ground along rivers and lakeshores, with migrants occurring on muddy and rocky substrates from concrete canal banks to channels in tidal mudflats. Mainly found as singles or in small groups, not in flocks or mixed with other species.
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