Common Sandpiper

Scientific Name: Actitis hypoleucos
Malay Name: Kedidi-Kelicap Biasa
Chinese Name: 矶鹬

Range:
Extremely wide-ranging species; breeds from western Europe to the Russian Far East; winters in tropical Africa across the Indian subcontinent and southeast Asia to Australia.

Taxonomy:
Monotypic.

Size: 19-21 cm

Identification:
Small, short-legged sandpiper; clean white underparts apart from brownish breast patch forming a "bib" (rather than a strip across the breast as in Green Sandpiper). Grey-tailed Tattler is longer-billed, larger, and longer-legged.

Similar looking species: Green Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Grey-tailed Tattler

Habitat: A wide range of waterbodies –including canals, drains, mudflats, reservoirs, and small ponds.

Behaviour/Ecology: Distinctive flight action consisting of sharp, stiff wing-beats. Often bobs tail up and down. Usually rather vocal, especially in flight.

Local Status: Common migrant

Conservation Status: Least Concern (BirdLife International 2016)

Location: Any area of suitable habitat, such as Sungei Buloh, Marina East, and in drains and canals across Singapore.

Migrant bar chart (see more bar charts):

Common Sandpiper at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve. Photo credit: Francis Yap

Common Sandpiper at Seletar Dam. Photo Credit: Francis Yap