Terek Sandpiper

Terek Sandpiper

Scientific Name: Xenus cinereus

Malay Name: Kedidi Sereng

Chinese Name: 翘嘴鹬

Range: Breeds from northeast Europe to east Siberia; winters (mostly coastal) in Africa, southeast Asia, Australia, and the Indonesian archipelago.

Taxonomy: Monotypic.

Size: 22-25 cm

Identification: A short-legged sandpiper with distinctive upturned bill. While its orange-red legs recall Common Redshank, Terek shows much shorter legs and an upturned bill. In flight, lacks white wing-bar (unlike Common Sandpiper), and has prominent white trailing edge to wing.

Similar looking species: Spotted Redshank, Common Redshank, Grey-tailed Tattler

Habitat: Winters mostly on coastal mudflats and sandflats.

Behaviour/Ecology: Often associates with Common Redshanks and other waders, especially at Sungei Buloh. 

Local Status: Uncommon migrant

Conservation Status: Least Concern (BirdLife International 2019)

Location: Any area of suitable habitat such as Sungei Buloh, Yishun Dam, Pasir Ris Park, or Chek Jawa.

Featured reports: Mar 2022, Aug 2022, Sep 2022, Oct 2022, Nov 2022, Dec 2022, Jan 2023, Feb 2023, Mar 2023, May 2023, Aug 2023, Sep 2023, Oct 2023, Nov 2023, Dec 2023, Jan 2024, Feb 2024, Mar 2024, Apr 2024, May 2024, Aug 2024, Sep 2024, Oct 2024

Migrant bar chart (see more bar charts):

Terek Sandpiper Xenus cinereus
Estimated average number of individuals by week based on eBird data, Jul 2014 to Jun 2024
Peak week Sep 10-Sep 16
Early date 06 Jul 1996
Late date 13 Jun 1987
Another increasingly scarce wader, but with a handful of sightings every year at the usual wader "hotspots": Yishun Dam, Sungei Buloh, Chek Jawa, and less frequently at other wetlands.
Terek Sandpiper at Seletar Dam. Photo Credit: Francis Yap
Terek Sandpiper at Seletar Dam. Photo credit: Francis Yap
Terek Sandpiper at Seletar Dam. Photo Credit: Francis Yap
Terek Sandpiper at Seletar Dam. Photo Credit: Francis Yap
Terek Sandpiper at Seletar Dam. Photo credit: Francis Yap
Terek Sandpiper at SBWR. Photo Credit: Francis Yap

External Links:

Conservation Status: IUCN Red List Page

Sound Recordings: xeno-canto Link

Wikipedia Entry: Wikipedia Link

eBird Species page: eBird (Terek Sandpiper)

References:

BirdLife International. (2019). Xenus cinereus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22693251A155505422.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.). Terek Sandpiper. Retrieved on December 21, 2024 from https://singaporebirds.com/species/terek-sandpiper.

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