Wood Sandpiper

Informazioni

The Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola) is a small, elegant wader belonging to the family Scolopacidae. It is known for its distinctive pale supercilium, finely spotted upperparts, and relatively long, greenish legs. It is a highly migratory species, breeding in the boreal forests and taiga wetlands of Eurasia and migrating to Africa, South Asia, and Australasia for the non-breeding season.

Dimensioni e longevità

Lunghezza

18-21 cm

Apertura alare

36-40 cm

Peso

34-98 g (average 50-60 g)

Longevità

Up to 10 years in the wild

Dieta

Insectivore

Caratteristiche fisiche

Piumaggio

Upperparts are dark brown to olive-brown, heavily spotted and streaked with white or pale buff, giving a 'scaly' appearance. Underparts are white, with fine streaking on the breast and flanks, especially in breeding plumage. A prominent pale supercilium extends behind the eye. The rump is white, and the tail is white with narrow dark bars.

Forma del becco

Relatively slender, straight, and dark, often with a paler greenish or yellowish base.

Colore degli occhi

Dark brown

Colore delle zampe

Long, greenish-yellow to olive-green legs, which can appear duller in non-breeding birds or juveniles.

Caratteristiche distintive

Prominent pale supercilium, finely spotted upperparts, white rump, barred tail, and greenish legs. In flight, the lack of a wing-bar and the white rump are key features.

Aspetto giovanile

Juveniles have more uniformly buff-spotted upperparts, often appearing 'neater' than adults. The breast streaking is less defined, and the legs may be duller.

Cambiamenti stagionali

Breeding plumage is more intensely marked with darker upperparts and more prominent white spotting. Non-breeding plumage is duller, with less distinct spotting and streaking, and a more uniform grey-brown appearance on the upperparts.

Dimorfismo sessuale

Males and females are generally similar in plumage, though females may be slightly larger on average. No obvious sexual dimorphism in coloration.

Come identificare

1. 1

   Size and Shape

   A small, elegant wader with a relatively long neck and legs, and a slender bill. Often appears 'perky' with a slight head-bob.

2. 2

   Plumage (Upperparts)

   Look for dark olive-brown upperparts heavily spotted and streaked with white or pale buff, giving a finely 'scaly' or 'spangled' appearance. This is a key distinction from the uniform dark upperparts of the Green Sandpiper.

3. 3

   Supercilium

   A prominent, long, pale supercilium (stripe above the eye) that extends well behind the eye is a strong field mark.

4. 4

   Rump and Tail

   In flight, observe the bright white rump contrasting sharply with the dark wings. The tail is white with fine dark barring, especially visible when fanned.

5. 5

   Legs

   Long, greenish-yellow to olive-green legs are characteristic. The color can vary with age and season but is generally lighter than the dark legs of a Green Sandpiper.

6. 6

   Call

   Listen for its distinctive sharp, high-pitched 'chip-chip-chip' or 'chiff-chiff-chiff' call, especially when flushed.

7. 7

   Behavior

   Often forages actively in shallow water, wading and probing. It frequently bobs its head and tail when standing, though less pronounced than a Common Sandpiper.

Habitat e areale

Biomi

Boreal forests, taiga, tundra, wetlands, marshes, bogs, wet meadows, shallow freshwater pools, rice paddies, sewage farms.

Areale geografico

Breeds across northern Eurasia from Scandinavia east to Siberia and Kamchatka. Winters in Africa (south of the Sahara), South Asia (India, Southeast Asia), and Australasia (Australia, New Zealand). Migrates through much of Europe, the Middle East, and Central Asia.

Fascia altitudinale

Primarily lowlands, but can be found at moderate elevations during migration.

Ambienti preferiti

Shallow freshwater wetlands with emergent vegetation, muddy edges, and open water. During breeding, prefers open taiga bogs and wet clearings. During migration and winter, found in a variety of freshwater habitats, including flooded fields, ponds, and sewage works.

Comportamento

Periodo di attività

Diurnal, but may also forage during twilight hours.

Abitudini alimentari

Forages actively in shallow water or on muddy edges, often wading up to its belly. It probes with its bill, picks items from the surface, and sometimes uses a 'sewing machine' action. Diet consists mainly of insects (larvae, beetles, flies), small crustaceans, and other invertebrates.

Comportamento sociale

Solitary or in small loose groups during migration and winter. During breeding, pairs are territorial. Can form larger flocks at favored stopover sites or wintering grounds.

Tipo di volo

Flight is light and buoyant, often with rapid wingbeats. When flushed, it typically flies a short distance, often circling before landing. Displays a distinctive white rump in flight, contrasting with dark wings. Often bobs its head and tail when standing.

Migrazione

Long-distance migratory. Breeds in the northern Palearctic and winters in the Afrotropics, Indomalaya, and Australasia. Migration occurs in broad fronts, with significant stopovers at suitable wetland habitats. Spring migration is typically from March to May, and autumn migration from July to October.

Territorialità

Territorial during the breeding season, with males defending nesting areas. Less territorial during migration and winter, though individual feeding spaces may be maintained.

Riproduzione

Stagione riproduttiva

May to July

Abitudini di nidificazione

Nests on the ground, typically in a shallow scrape lined with grass, moss, or leaves, often concealed in tussocks or under low vegetation near water. Sometimes uses old thrush nests in trees, a unique behavior among sandpipers.

Dimensione della covata

3-4 eggs

Descrizione dell'uovo

Typically 4 eggs, pyriform (pear-shaped), pale olive to buff-brown, heavily spotted and blotched with dark brown or black, especially at the broader end.

Periodo di incubazione

22-23 days

Periodo di involo

28-31 days

Cure parentali

Both parents incubate and care for the young, though the female often leaves before the young fledge, leaving the male to complete parental duties.

Dove trovarlo

Consigli sul campo

1. Scan shallow water edges. Wood Sandpipers prefer to forage in very shallow water or on muddy banks. Use binoculars to scan these areas carefully.
2. Listen for calls. Their distinctive 'chip-chip-chip' call is often the first indication of their presence, especially when they are flushed.
3. Observe flight pattern. If a small wader flies up, look for the white rump and the absence of a wing-bar to help confirm identification.
4. Check for head/tail bobbing. While not as pronounced as a Common Sandpiper, they do exhibit a characteristic head and tail bobbing motion when at rest or foraging.

Specie simili

Fatti rapidi

Status:

Least Concern

Diet:

Insects and invertebrates

Habitat:

Freshwater wetlands, bogs, flooded fields

Migration:

Long-distance migrant

Key ID Feature:

White rump, spotted upperparts, pale supercilium, greenish legs

Curiosità

• The Wood Sandpiper is one of the few waders known to occasionally use old tree nests of other birds, particularly thrushes, for nesting, a highly unusual behavior for a ground-nesting species.
• Its scientific name 'glareola' comes from Latin 'glarea' meaning 'gravel', referring to its preferred habitat of gravelly or muddy shores.
• Despite its name, the Wood Sandpiper is more associated with wet, open areas within or adjacent to woodlands rather than dense forests themselves.
• During its long migrations, individuals can cover thousands of kilometers, often making significant stopovers to refuel at suitable wetland habitats.

Classificazione scientifica

Regno

Animalia

Phylum

Chordata

Classe

Aves

Ordine

Charadriiformes

Famiglia

Scolopacidae

Genere

Tringa

Specie

Tringa glareola

Esplora Wood Sandpiper