Species Profile
Green Sandpiper
Tringa ochropus
Green Sandpiper
Quick Facts
Conservation
LCLeast ConcernLifespan
7–10 years
Length
21–24 cm
Weight
50–110 g
Wingspan
41–46 cm
Migration
Long-distance Migrant
Also known as: Wood Sandpiper
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Appearance
The Green Sandpiper is a small wader with dark brown upperparts, contrasting with a white rump and tail. Its underparts are white, and it has a distinctive dark green sheen on its wings in good light.
In breeding plumage, it shows more prominent white spotting on the upperparts. Juveniles are similar to adults but have buff-edged feathers on the upperparts, giving them a scaly appearance.
Identification & Characteristics
Colors
- Primary
- Brown
- Secondary
- Green
- Beak
- Black
- Legs
- Olive
Attributes
Understanding Attributes
Rated 0–100 based on research and observation. A score of 50 is average across all bird species. These attributes are relative and don't necessarily indicate superiority.
Habitat & Distribution
Green Sandpipers inhabit various freshwater habitats, including small ponds, streams, and marshes. They breed in northern Europe and Asia, from Scotland to eastern Siberia.
During winter, they migrate to southern Europe, Africa, and Asia. In the UK, they're more commonly seen during spring and autumn migrations, with some overwintering in southern regions. The lowlands of Wales, southern and central England, and southern Ireland are some of the best places to see them.
Distribution
Where to See This Bird
Explore regional guides for locations where this bird has been recorded.
England
Rutland
Cambridgeshire
Bedfordshire
Berkshire
Cheshire
Dorset
East Riding of Yorkshire
Essex
Gloucestershire
Herefordshire
Hertfordshire
Kent
Lincolnshire
London
Norfolk
Northamptonshire
Nottinghamshire
South Yorkshire
Suffolk
Shropshire
Staffordshire
Stockton-on-Tees
Warwickshire
Worcestershire
West Sussex
Diet
Green Sandpipers primarily feed on aquatic invertebrates, including insects, worms, and small crustaceans. Fish are also sometimes caught and eaten.
They forage by picking prey from the water's surface or mud, often wading in shallow water and probing with their beaks. They are also observed to turn over large underwater stones in search of leeches and worms.
Behaviour
Green Sandpipers are solitary birds, often seen alone or in small groups. They have a characteristic bobbing motion when walking and foraging. When disturbed, they fly off rapidly with a distinctive zig-zag pattern, often giving their alarm call.
Calls & Sounds
The Green Sandpiper has a distinctive, high-pitched call often described as a clear, ringing 'tlu-it-it' or 'klui-klui-klui'. This call is frequently heard when the bird is flushed or in flight. During the breeding season, males perform a song flight with a repeated 'tludle-tludle-tludle'.
Nesting & Breeding
Green Sandpipers have an unusual breeding habit among waders. They typically nest in trees, using old nests of other birds, particularly thrushes, woodpigeons, crows, fieldfares, and grey squirrels' dreys. The breeding season usually starts in May.
Occasionally, they will lay their eggs in a ground-level tangle of roots or tucked inside low-lying vegetation, where they use a shallow scrape in the ground with no added lining.
The female lays 4 pale green eggs with brown spots in a nest lined with moss and grass. Both parents share incubation duties.
Incubation lasts about 21 days, and the chicks fledge after 28-30 days. The young are precocial, leaving the nest soon after hatching.
Conservation
While the Green Sandpiper is listed as Least Concern globally, it faces threats from habitat loss and degradation. Conservation efforts focus on protecting wetland habitats and maintaining water quality in their breeding and wintering grounds.
Elevation
Up to 2,000 meters
Additional Details
- Predators:
- Main predators include birds of prey such as falcons and hawks, as well as mammals like foxes and weasels, particularly during the breeding season.
Birdwatching Tips
- Look for Green Sandpipers near freshwater habitats, especially small ponds and streams.
- Listen for their distinctive 'tlu-it-it' call when flushed.
- Observe their quick, darting flight and white rump, visible when they take off.
- In the UK, they're more common during spring and autumn migrations.
Did You Know?
- Green Sandpipers are one of the few wader species that nest in trees.
- They have a unique 'anti-predator' mechanism of defecating on their eggs to camouflage them.
- Despite their name, the green colouration is only visible in good light conditions.
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