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PLATE 45: SANDPIPERS III
Little Stint Calidris minuta PM, WV
L: 13. W: 30. Abundant in region. Almost always has dark bill and legs, the latter separating it from
Temminck’s Stint. In summer plumage, colour on face, neck, breast and scapulars varies from dull
orange to warm buff; but always shows pale ‘V’ on mantle and dark centre to crown. In winter,
upperparts become grey, usually with dark shaft-streaks to feathers. Juvenile, which looks very
white below, has warm rufous tone to upperparts, a distinct white ‘V’ on mantle, diffuse greyish
neck-collar and rufous, streaked breast-sides. Feeding action rapid. Voice Flight call a short tip,
chit or trill. Habitat Coastal flats and inland wetlands. Note Passage and winter hatched; some
oversummer in Arabia.Temminck’s Stint Calidris temminckii PM, WV
L: 13. W: 30. Similar in size to Little Stint but with more elongated body and shorter, yellowish-
green legs; white sides to tail prominent in flight. In summer, mainly grey-buff with dark centres
to many scapulars, and lacking rufous-orange tones. In winter the dark scapulars are lost and
then looks plain buff-grey, but note defined grey breast. Juveniles have narrow buffish fringes to
scapulars and coverts with some dark markings on upper scapulars. Lacks white ‘V’ on mantle in
all plumages. Often keeps tipped forward, legs flexed. Sometimes in small groups; often towers
high in erratic flight when flushed. Voice Flight call distinctive ringing trill, tirrrrr, quite unlike Little
Stint. Habitat Inland pools, marshes, muddy coasts. Note Passage hatched; winters mainly S Iran
and Arabia.Long-toed Stint Calidris subminuta pm, wv
L: 14. W: 30. Similar to Little Stint in size but with longer neck (noticeable when standing upright)
and longer legs, which are dull yellowish or yellowish-brown; the long toes can be difficult to
see. Leg colour similar to Temminck’s Stint, from which told by longer legs, more upright posture,
and plumage. In summer, rufous and well-streaked, with noticeable supercilium creating capped
appearance. In winter, note dark feather centres to upperparts and fine streaking on head and
breast, unlike the plain grey of Little and Temminck’s Stints. When flushed, shows faint wing-bar
and often towers high like Temminck’s Stint. Voice Short, soft prrt or tit-tit-tit, in flight. Habitat
Freshwater margins, coastal pools, mudflats. Note Passage and winter hatched, but scarce; vagrant
Bahrain, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Yemen.Sanderling Calidris alba PM, WV
L: 20. W: 40. Slightly larger than Dunlin with shorter, straighter bill. In winter has very pale plumage
with dark mark at bend of wing. In summer and juvenile plumage more easily confusable with other
small waders, particularly stints. Note lack of hind toe. In summer plumage can be quite rusty on
head and has prominent breast-band, but always shows dark scalloping in the red of the breast,
a feature that helps separate from smaller, vagrant Red-necked Stint. Juvenile spangled black and
white on upperparts, sometimes with buff wash on breast-sides. White wing-bar noticeable in
flight. Often runs fast, particularly on open shoreline ahead of wave-wash. Voice Usual flight call is
a loud plit. Habitat Sandy beaches, mudflats. Note Passage hatched, rare inland; coastal in winter.