Very rare vagrant in North America.
Not listed
At a glance
FamilySandpipers and Allies
SizeSmall
RarityRare
HabitatAdults in breeding plumage are variably flushed with bright rusty orange on the head, neck sides, and upperparts, usually brightest in mid- to late-summer.
Best timeMost reliable in Victoria from January.
Sounds
Sound sampleRecorded by David Darrell-Lambert
Range map
Range map
53approx hotspots
492approx records
6states
Low confidenceMediumHigh confidence
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
All ages show dark legs and a straight, fine-tipped bill. Adults in breeding plumage are variably flushed with bright rusty orange on the head, neck sides, and upperparts, usually brightest in mid- to late-summer.
Behavior
Compared with breeding Red-necked Stint, note white throat and more uniformly bright wing coverts and scapulars on Little.
Gallery
Regional timing
Western Australia
South Australia
Victoria
Northern Territory
Tasmania
New South Wales
Queensland
Commonly confused with
Hudsonian GodwitLimosa haemasticaLong upturned bill, red at the base with a black tip. Breeding male shows rich rufous belly and messy black, gray, and white pattern on back. Female duller. Nonbreeding birds are overall plain gray, but juveniles have more cinnamon tones. Note white eyebrow in all plumages. Most distinctive field mark is black underwing, only seen in flight. In migration, found in flooded fields, beaches, mudflats, and shallow marshy pools, sometimes in mixed flocks with Willet or yellowlegs.→Long-toed StintCalidris subminutaUnlike most other small sandpipers in the region, this species has a distinctly long-winged and slender-bodied appearance. Note that long toes project slightly beyond tail in flight, unlike other stints. Flight call a quiet “prrrrp” similar to Curlew Sandpiper.→Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosSlightly curved bill pale at base. Look for dense breast streaking with abrupt border at white belly. Plumage and yellow legs might recall Least Sandpiper, but Pectoral is much larger and looks longer-necked. Compare with Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, which is brighter overall and has a more distinct dark cap. Breeds on tundra in the high Arctic. Winters mainly in southern South America, but small numbers also winter in Southeast Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. Much less common on open mudflats or beaches. Listen for low, trilled calls.→