Spoon-billed Sandpiper

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: Very rare migrant

Conservation Status: Critically Endangered (BirdLife International 2021)

Featured articles:

• Bird List Revision for March 2019 (Revisions)
• Minor checklist revision for April 2017 (Revisions)

Past accepted records in our database:

Migrant bar chart (see more bar charts):

Spoon-billed Sandpiper at Thailand. Photo Credit: Shirley Ng

Spoon-billed Sandpiper at Thailand. Photo Credit: Shirley Ng