Page 188 - Complete Birds of Britain and Europe (DK - RSPB)

WADERS
Order Charadriiformes Family Scolopacidae Species Tringa ochropus
Green Sandpiper

pale line in
very dark front of eye
upperwings greyish
white-speckled, dark cap
blackish bill with
underwings dark grey-brown dark tip
upperparts
big, square
white
rump
ADULT
thick bars streaked greyish
on tail IN FLIGHT breast
bright white
diffuse buff greenish legs underside
spots above

ADULT
JUVENILE
ike other Tringa sandpipers, this bird is often seen
L in twos, threes, or fours; it does not gather close FLIGHT: flies fast, rising steeply when flushed, with
together in tight flocks or in larger numbers. Often quick, flicked beats of angled wings.
one or two fly up from a muddy pool and shoot
around the sky,sometimes returning,sometimes moving
quite far.They are often seen in or near coastal
marshes but not on open mudflats. Getting close to
Green Sandpipers, without a hide, is usually rather
difficult as they tend to be very alert and quick to fly
off, looking black and white as they take to the air.
VOICE Loud, full-throated, liquid, almost yodelling
tllu-eet, weet-weet!
NESTING Old nest of thrush or similar bird in tree
near forest bog; 4 eggs; 1 brood; May–July. MUD WADER
FEEDING Often up to belly in water, probing and This sandpiper usually wades on muddy shores, close to cover, often
picking insects, crustaceans, and worms. bobbing its tail; it is typically less active than the Common Sandpiper.
SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRENCE
Breeds in N and NE Europe. Local
COMMON SANDPIPER browner in winter; widespread migrant.
see p.184
Mostly on small pools, streams,
wet ditches, salt-marsh creeks,
muddy edges of reservoirs, and
browner
in more overgrown areas than
shorter other sandpipers.
legs WOOD SANDPIPER
smaller white Seen in the UK
rump; see p.185 J F M A M JJ A S O N D
Length 21–24cm (8 1 ⁄2 –9 1 ⁄2in) Wingspan 41–46cm (16–18in) Weight 70–90g (2 1 ⁄2 –3 1 ⁄4oz)
Social Small flocks Lifespan Up to 10 years Status Secure†
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