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common sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos)

Common sandpiper

The common sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos) is a small shorebird that belongs to the family Scolopacidae. It's widely distributed across Europe, Asia, and Africa during the breeding season, and it migrates to tropical regions of Africa, Asia, and Australasia during the winter.

Here are some key characteristics of the common sandpiper:

Appearance: Common sandpipers have a brownish-gray upper body with a white underside. They have a distinctive white eye ring and a slightly downward-curved bill. During flight, their wings display a characteristic white wing-stripe.

Habitat: They prefer habitats near freshwater bodies such as rivers, streams, lakes, and ponds during the breeding season. During migration and winter, they can also be found in coastal areas, estuaries, mudflats, and sandy beaches.

Behavior: These birds are known for their bobbing motion while walking or feeding along the water's edge, which gives them their distinctive appearance. They forage by picking insects, crustaceans, and other small invertebrates from the water's surface or shallow mud.

Breeding: Common sandpipers typically breed in open areas near water bodies. They nest on the ground, usually in a concealed location such as a grass tussock or under low vegetation. The female lays a clutch of four eggs, which both parents incubate for about three weeks.

Migration: They are migratory birds, traveling long distances between their breeding and wintering grounds. In Europe, they migrate south to Africa for the winter, while those breeding in Asia may migrate to South Asia or Southeast Asia.

Vocalization: Their call is a high-pitched, melodious whistle often described as a "tu-weet".

Conservation: While the common sandpiper is still relatively common and widespread, habitat loss and degradation, as well as disturbance at breeding sites, pose threats to their populations in some areas.


The common sandpiper is found across various countries in the Indian subcontinent during the breeding season and as a winter visitor. In the Indian subcontinent, which comprises countries such as India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka, the common sandpiper is a fairly common migrant bird.

During the breeding season, common sandpipers can be found in suitable habitats across the region, including freshwater bodies such as rivers, streams, lakes, and ponds, as well as open areas with nearby water sources. They typically breed in the northern parts of the Indian subcontinent, including parts of northern India, Nepal, and Bhutan.

During the winter months, common sandpipers migrate to warmer regions, including various parts of the Indian subcontinent. They can be found in coastal areas, estuaries, mudflats, and wetlands across countries like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka during this time.

Their migration patterns make them a familiar sight to birdwatchers and wildlife enthusiasts in the Indian subcontinent, where they contribute to the rich avian biodiversity of the region.

Please don't use these images anywhere without permission. © All rights reserved by Birds of Indian Subcontinent

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