Page 182 - Complete Birds of Britain and Europe (DK - RSPB)

WADERS
Order Charadriiformes Family Scolopacidae Species Calidris temminckii
Temminck’s Stint
dull grey-brown
dark blotches upperparts
on grey-brown
upperparts
JUVENILE
(AUTUMN)
pale
legs

ADULT
white
outer tail (SUMMER) ADULT (WINTER)
feathers
dark spots
above
short, slim
IN FLIGHT dark bill
long rear
body
dark breast-band
pale legs with paler centre
white belly
he stints are tiny
Twaders, and Temminck’s
Stint is distinctive among the
smaller waders in having pale
legs and no pale “V” on the ADULT
back.The odd Temminck’s may (SPRING)
be overlooked among groups of Little
Stints that appear in spring around southern
European lakes. It does not actually flock with Little Stints, but
mingles more incidentally: unlike its commoner relative, it feeds FLIGHT: fast, direct; often rises high and fast if
in overgrown, swampy places rather than on open shores. Small flushed.
groups appear in northwest Europe in spring; in autumn,
usually single juveniles are seen on migration, when they
may be exceptionally tame.They have a distinctive
lacy pattern above each feather with thin brown
and buff fringes.
VOICE Quick, spluttering, dry trill, tirr-r-r tirr-r-r.
NESTING Shallow, unlined hollow in vegetation;
4 eggs; 1 brood; May–June.
FEEDING Picks and probes for tiny
invertebrates among short vegetation
or on sticky, wet mud.
SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRENCE
Rare breeder in N Scandinavia, but
pale “V” COMMON SANDPIPER widespread as migrant. Quite
on back see p.184
frequent in E Europe, rare in NW
Europe, often in twos or threes in
bobs
black tail late spring or single juveniles in
legs SINGING MALE autumn, turning up beside fresh
Males settle on stumps and trees,
larger water on muddy or weedy shores.
overlooking the breeding territory,
LITTLE STINT after their high display flights with Seen in the UK
see p.181 J F M A M JJ AS O N D
trilling songs.
Length 13–15cm (5–6in) Wingspan 34–37cm (13 1 ⁄2 –14 1 ⁄2in) Weight 20–40g ( 11 ⁄16 –1 7 ⁄16oz)
Social Solitary/Small flocks Lifespan Up to 5 years Status Secure†
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