BetterBirding
Bird guideLong-toed Stint

Tiny and slender “peep” of inland and coastal wetlands, where it is often found in well-vegetated areas such as fields and flooded meadows.

Spot this speciesRead on Wikipedia
⚠️WA: Rare

At a glance

FamilySandpipers and Allies
SizeSmall
RarityUncommon
HabitatTiny and slender “peep” of inland and coastal wetlands, where it is often found in well-vegetated areas such as fields and flooded meadows.
Best timeMost reliable in Victoria from December to January.

Sounds

Sound sample
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Recorded by Ray Tsu 诸仁

Range map

Range map

166visible hotspots
2701visible records
5states
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

Unlike 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.

Behavior

Breeding adults are a rich brown with darker feather centres above and white underneath. These birds forage on mudflats, picking up food by sight, sometimes by probing.

Gallery

Regional timing

Western Australia
Peak: October to November357 records
Queensland
Peak: January326 records
Victoria
Peak: December to January1,474 records
South Australia
Peak: January194 records
Northern Territory
Peak: October to November272 records
New South Wales
Peak: January54 records
Australian Capital Territory
Peak: December21 records

Commonly confused with

Broad-billed SandpiperCalidris falcinellusUpperparts dark, contrasting with the white underparts and streaky breast. When flushed, flight is low and often short. Bold head pattern, evident in all seasons, is the best feature to look for in winter-plumaged birds. Breeds in taiga bogs, usually at coasts and estuaries on migration and in winter.→Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosCompare this bird carefully in the field→Wood SandpiperTringa glareolaIn flight shows plain upperwings, square white rump patch. Legs greenish yellow. Migrants and wintering birds occur in varied wetland habitats, especially with grassy and other vegetation cover. Walks in shallow water, picking with its bill. Bobs tail when nervous, but not habitually like Common Sandpiper.→
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