Grey-tailed Tattler

Tringa brevipes

Family: Sandpipers and Allies · Status: Very rare migrant · Size: 24–27 cm · Conservation: Least Concern

Range

Breeds in northern Siberia; winters south through the Malay Peninsula, Philippines, and coastal Indonesia and Australia.

Identification

A rather stockily-built sandpiper; in breeding plumage (which is sometimes retained until October or even later), shows grey upperparts, underparts white with wide, thin chevron-shaped markings across breast, flank and vent. In non-breeding plumage, white throat and brownish-grey wash over breast and upper belly; rest of underparts clean white. Differentiated from other similar species by combination of short yellow legs (compared to Common Redshank, Common Greenshank, Marsh Sandpiper, and all other Tringa sandpipers except Nordmann's Greenshank, which have longer legs); short, blunt-tipped bill (compared to Terek Sandpiper and much rarer Nordmann's Greenshank, which have upturned bills).

Habitat

Intertidal mudflats and mangroves.

Behaviour

Often associates with other waders; has been recorded with Common Redshanks at Sungei Buloh.