Wood Sandpiper — Australian Bird Identification Guide | BetterBirding

Bird guideWood Sandpiper

Medium-sized brownish wader with a white belly, varied pale spotting and spangling on back.

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⚠️WA: Rare; NT: Endangered

At a glance

FamilySandpipers and Allies

SizeSmall

RarityCommon

HabitatA Eurasian species , it is the smallest of the shanks , a genus of mid-sized, long-legged waders that largely inhabit freshwater and wetland environments, as opposed to the maritime or coastal habitats of other, similar species.

Best timeMost reliable in Northern Territory from September to October.

Sounds

Sound sample

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Recorded by Petter Westberg

Range map

Range map

Occurrence window

200approx hotspots

13713approx 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

In 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.

Behavior

Breeds in bogs and marshes in open coniferous and mixed forests. Mainly found as singles or small flocks, not mixed with other species.

Gallery

Regional timing

Western Australia

Peak: September to February1,146 records

Queensland

Peak: October to December1,520 records

Northern Territory

Peak: September to October5,462 records

Victoria

Peak: January to February2,515 records

New South Wales

Peak: October to January1,424 records

South Australia

Peak: January1,600 records

Australian Capital Territory

Peak: October29 records

Commonly confused with

Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucosPlain brown with white underparts; distinguished from bulkier and rounder-headed Green Sandpiper by a prominent white spur at the shoulder.→Red KnotCalidris canutusBeautiful breeding plumage shows entirely salmon-orange underparts and silvery wings with intricate patterning. Nonbreeding is plain gray with pale underparts and a white eyebrow; juvenile similar but with scaly pattern on wings. Usually shows dark barring on flanks. Legs are dull greenish or gray. Widespread and fairly common, breeding on high Arctic tundra and wintering on coastlines around the globe, as far south as Tierra del Fuego. Most numerous on beaches and mudflats; less common inland. Compare with larger, lankier, longer-billed Great Knot in Asia and Australia.→SanderlingCalidris albaBy mid-summer, the frosty feather tips fade away and the neck can be deep, rich red—not to be confused with the much smaller Red-necked Stint! Very pale in winter. Juveniles are nearly spangled with black-and-white above. At all seasons, note larger size and somewhat thicker bill than other peeps or stints, along with bold white wing stripe in flight. Also occurs on mudflats, especially in migration. Extensive global range, breeding on high Arctic tundra and wintering on coastlines on every continent except Antarctica.→