Little Stint

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

Scientific Name: Calidris minuta
Malay Name: Kedidi-Kerdil Perang
Chinese Name: 小滨鹬

Range:
Breeds in the northern Palearctic, winters in Africa, the Middle East, and the Indian subcontinent. Vagrant to southeast Asia.

Taxonomy:
Monotypic.

Size: 14-15.5 cm

Identification:
Good views are required to differentiate this species from the very similar Red-necked Stint; compared to that species, Little has longer legs (with longer exposed tibia) and bill, distinct split supercilium (apparent in photographs), and darker central crown.

Similar looking species: Red-necked Stint, Temminck's Stint, Long-toed Stint, Spoon-billed Sandpiper, Broad-billed Sandpiper

Habitat: Mudflats and sandflats.

Behaviour/Ecology: Similar to Red-necked, feeds by rapid probing and pecking.

Local Status: Very rare vagrant

Conservation Status: Least Concern (BirdLife International 2019)

Featured articles:

Past accepted records in our database:

Migrant bar chart (see more bar charts):

External Links:
Conservation Status: IUCN Red List Page
Sound Recordings: xeno-canto Link
Wikipedia Entry: Wikipedia Link
eBird Species page: eBird (Little Stint)
References:
BirdLife International. (2019). Calidris minuta. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T22693379A138406063.en. Accessed on 1 January 2023
Bakewell, D. (2017). Finally, Singapore’s first Little Stints! Dig deep. Retrieved October 7, 2021, from https://digdeep1962.wordpress.com/2017/10/17/finally-singapores-first-little-stints/.
Robson, C. (2014). Field guide to the birds of South-East Asia (Second Edition). Bloomsbury Publishing, London.