Page 426 - Complete Birds of Britain and Europe (DK - RSPB)

WADERS
Family Scolopacidae Species Xenus cinereus Family Scolopacidae Species Calidris minutilla
Terek Sandpiper Least Sandpiper
Disproportionately large-billed, this rare, short-legged Rather like a tiny Pectoral Sandpiper (see p.426), the
sandpiper has a rather low,forward-leaning carriage that Least Sandpiper is distinguished from the Little Stint
is exaggerated as it lurches and runs over muddy shores. (see p.181) by its pale legs and from Temminck’s (see
It is plain dull greyish brown with a whiter underside, p.180) by its streakier back, darker breast, and fine pale
marked by a white trailing edge to the wing (but the “V” on the upperparts on juveniles. Pale legs instantly
rump is grey). In summer, it has blackish bands along indicate something quite rare; the tiny (barely sparrow)
the back.The legs are pale to rich orange-yellow. size and angular shape are also distinctive.The Long-
OCCURRENCE Rare migrant in E Europe, very rare toed Stint is very similar but even rarer.
vagrant in W Europe, from Asia. OCCURRENCE Rare vagrant in W Europe, from
VOICE Soft notes in short, North America.
rapid series in flight. VOICE Sharp, abrupt keek, ki-keek or tree-eep.
streaked back
large, ADULT
upturned
bill pale legs tiny
bill
ADULT yellow legs
(SUMMER)

Length 22–25cm (9–10in) Wingspan 38–40cm (15–16in) Length 13–14cm (5–5 1 ⁄2in) Wingspan 25–30cm (10–12in)

Family Scolopacidae Species Calidris subminuta Family Scolopacidae Species Calidris tenuirostris
Long-toed Stint Great Knot
A small, long-legged, long-toed, slightly curve-billed With some resemblance to the Knot (see p.176),
stint, the Long-toed Stint tends to creep about like especially in winter, the Great Knot is nevertheless
a tiny crake, or stretch upwards and look very upright. larger, with a small head, longer bill, slightly longer
It is like a bright Least Sandpiper or a tiny Wood legs, and a longer, more tapered rear end. Juveniles are
Sandpiper (see p.185), with yellowish legs, a dark cap browner than young Knots, with dark scaly upperparts;
reaching the bill, dark cheeks, a pale bill base, and they have dark breasts with rows of neat dark spots.
bright upperpart “V”s on autumn juveniles. Winter adults are grey but have darker breast spots,
OCCURRENCE Very rare vagrant from E Siberia. unlike a Knot.The bill is thick-based, tapered,
VOICE Short trill, chrrip. and slightly downcurved; the rump
cream stripes is grey, like a Knot’s.
ADULT on back OCCURRENCE Very rare vagrant
in NW Europe and Middle
East, from Siberia.
short VOICE Vagrants
bill
mostly silent.

pale legs
spotted
tapered underside
rear end short legs
ADULT (SUMMER)
Length 14–15cm (5 1 ⁄2 –6in) Wingspan 25–30cm (10–12in) Length 24–27cm (9 1 ⁄2–10 1 ⁄2in) Wingspan 40cm (16in)
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