Spoon-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 pygmaea

Malay Name: Kedidi Paruh Sudu

Chinese Name: 勺嘴鹬

Range: Breeding in north-eastern Siberia. Winters in South and South-east Asia.

Taxonomy: Monotypic.

Size: 14-16 cm

Identification: A small wader that resembles the Red-necked Stint and Little Stint. Diagnotic feature is its spatulate bill. In breeding plumage the bird is reddish-brown around the head, breast and back. The breast has varying amounts of dark streaks extending towards the belly, which is white. Non-breeding adults lack the reddish colouration, but have pale brownish-grey upperparts with with a lightly streaked cap and back of the neck. The underparts, throat and forehead are white. The legs are black.

Similar looking species: Red-necked Stint, Little Stint

Habitat: Mudflats, sandflats, sometimes sandy beaches, salt pans and prawn ponds.

Behaviour/Ecology: Feeds in shallow waters and on soft wet mud. Feeding style consists of sweeping bill from side-to-side as the bird walks forward with its head down.

Local Status: Vagrant

Conservation Status: Critically Endangered (BirdLife International 2021)

Past records in our database:

Showing only accepted records. Note that records currently under review are also not displayed, and the list may not be a full list of records of this species in Singapore. For more details, check the database here.

Migrant bar chart (see more bar charts):

Spoon-billed Sandpiper Calidris pygmaea
Average number of individuals by week based on Singapore Bird Database data, Jul 2013 to Jun 2023 (all records)
Early date 26 Oct 1963
Late date 03 Mar 1979
Bar chart not displayed for this species; no records in the given time period.
Among the world's rarest birds, with its estimated population numbering less than 1000 birds. Last local record was in 2000.
Spoon-billed Sandpiper at Thailand. Photo Credit: Shirley Ng
Spoon-billed Sandpiper at Thailand. Photo Credit: Shirley Ng

External Links:

Conservation Status: IUCN Red List Page

Sound Recordings: xeno-canto Link

Wikipedia Entry: Wikipedia Link

eBird Species page: eBird (Spoon-billed Sandpiper)

References:

BirdLife International. (2021). Calidris pygmaea. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T22693452A154738156.en. Accessed on 1 January 2023

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

RECOMMENDED CITATION

Bird Society of Singapore. (n.d.). Spoon-billed Sandpiper. Retrieved on December 1, 2023 from https://singaporebirds.com/species/spoon-billed-sandpiper.

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