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.

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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 SBWR. 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 Seletar Dam. 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 June 7, 2025 from https://singaporebirds.com/species/terek-sandpiper.

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