Tringa stagnatilis
The Marsh Sandpiper (Tringa stagnatilis) is an exquisitely elegant wader, slender in build and renowned for its graceful movements. Averaging 22-26 cm (8.7-10.2 in) in length with a wingspan of 45-51 cm (17.7-20.1 in) and weighing 45-120 g (1.6-4.2 oz), it possesses remarkably long, yellowish-green legs and a needle-fine, straight black bill. In breeding plumage, adults display heavily streaked grey-brown upperparts and a crisp white underside, contrasted by a prominent white supercilium and ...
Marsh Sandpipers primarily inhabit shallow freshwater wetlands, including flooded grasslands, marshes, and the edges of lakes, as well as brackish lagoons and estuaries. They are typically found in low-lying areas, rarely venturing into elevated terrains.
Their diet consists mainly of small aquatic invertebrates, including insect larvae, crustaceans, and molluscs, supplemented occasionally by small fish. They forage by rapidly probing and sweeping their bill through shallow water and soft mud.
Marsh Sandpipers are diurnal foragers, often seen individually or in small, loose groups while feeding, though they can form larger flocks at favored roosting sites. Their foraging strategy is characterized by rapid, almost frenetic movements, walking quickly through shallow water while employing...
The Marsh Sandpiper boasts an extensive breeding range across Eurasia, extending from Eastern Europe (notably Ukraine and European Russia) eastward through a broad belt of central Asia, including Kazakhstan, Mongolia, and into Siberia and northeastern China. Following breeding, they undertake lon...
Least Concern
- The Marsh Sandpiper's scientific name, 'stagnatilis', fittingly translates to 'of stagnant pools' or 'marshes', reflecting its preferred habitat. - It is considered one of the most elegantly built waders, often described as a 'miniature greenshank' due to its graceful proportions. - Its bill is...