Wood Sandpiper

The Wood Sandpiper, Tringa glareola, presents as a small wader, the most diminutive of the shanks within the Scolopacidae family. It is characterized by its fine bill, brown back, and notably longer yellowish legs, giving it a delicate appearance.

Identification Tips

When identifying the Wood Sandpiper, look for a bird with a longer-legged stature compared to the Green or Solitary Sandpiper. Its white rump patch is smaller and less contrasting than that of the Green Sandpiper, and unlike the Solitary Sandpiper, it does indeed have a white rump patch.

Habitat

During migration and wintering periods, the Wood Sandpiper is typically found on freshwater bodies, where it can be seen foraging in shallow waters or wet mud.

Distribution

Breeding across subarctic wetlands from the Scottish Highlands through Europe and into the Palearctic, the Wood Sandpiper migrates to Africa, Southern Asia, particularly India, and Australia. Notably, vagrant birds have reached as far as the Hawaiian Islands, and it is a regular visitor to the Mariana Islands and Palau in Micronesia.

Behaviour

The Wood Sandpiper is known to nest on the ground or opportunistically use abandoned nests of other birds. It is a migratory species, with adults moulting their primary feathers between August and December, and immature birds undergoing a variable moult closer to their departure from Africa.

Breeding

Breeding in subarctic wetlands, the Wood Sandpiper lays four pale green eggs between March and May, either on the ground or in reused nests from other bird species.

Similar Species

The Wood Sandpiper can be confused with the Green Sandpiper or the Solitary Sandpiper but can be distinguished by its leg length, bill size, and the presence or contrast of the white rump patch.

Diet and Feeding

The diet of the Wood Sandpiper mainly consists of insects and similar small prey, which it hunts by probing in shallow waters or on wet mud.

Conservation status

The Wood Sandpiper is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, indicating a widespread and stable population. It is also a species protected under the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA).