Broad-billed Sandpiper

This species is defined as a Review Species . Please submit your records of this species via our record submission page .

Scientific Name: Calidris falcinellus

Malay Name: Kedidi Paruh Lebar

Chinese Name: 阔嘴鹬

Range: Two populations: falcinellus breeds in Scandinavia and northwest Russia and winters from east Africa to the Indian subcontinent; sibirica breeds in northeast Siberia and winters from northeast India to Australia.

Taxonomy: Polytypic. Subspecies are: falcinellus, sibirica.

Local Subspecies: sibirica

Size: 16-18 cm

Identification: A small wader with short legs and a somewhat rounded appearance. In all plumages, can be distinguished from other waders by relatively long bill decurved at its tip and distinctive split supercilium. Slightly larger Curlew Sandpiper and Dunlin have a more evenly decurved bill, lack the split supercilium, and, when in non-breeding colors, display less contrasting upperpart plumage. Red-necked and Little Stint are smaller and have shorter bills which lack the decurved tip. In breeding plumage, Broad-billed Sandpipers show rufous fringes to upperpart feathers and a more contrasting supercilium.

Similar looking species: Red-necked Stint, Curlew Sandpiper, Little Stint

Habitat: Mudflats, sandflats, and brackish lagoons.

Behaviour/Ecology: Walks slowly while feeding, scanning for prey from side to side; occasionally probes. Sometimes joins flocks of other waders.

Local Status: Rare migrant

Conservation Status: Least Concern (BirdLife International 2019)

Past records in our database:

Showing only accepted records. Records currently under review are also not displayed. For a full list, click here.

Migrant bar chart (see more bar charts):

References:

BirdLife International. (2019). Calidris falcinellus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T22693464A155481741.en. Accessed on 1 January 2023

Robson, C. (2014). Field guide to the birds of South-East Asia (Second Edition). Bloomsbury Publishing, London.