Species Profile
Temminck's Stint
Calidris temminckii
Temminck's Stint
Quick Facts
Conservation
LCLeast ConcernAlso known as: Temminck's Sandpiper
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Appearance
Temminck's Stint is a small wader with brown upperparts and greyish underparts. It has a short, straight black bill and yellowish-green legs. In breeding plumage, it shows rufous edges on its back feathers.
Non-breeding adults are plainer, with uniform grey-brown upperparts. Males and females are similar in appearance year-round. However, females are generally larger.
Juveniles resemble non-breeding adults but have buff-edged wing coverts, creating a scaly appearance on the back. A buff-brown band is visible across the breast.
Identification & Characteristics
Colors
- Primary
- Brown
- Secondary
- White
- Beak
- Black
- Legs
- Yellow
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
Temminck's Stint breeds in the Arctic tundra of northern Europe and Asia. Russia is home to the majority of the world's breeding population. During migration and winter, it frequents a variety of wetland habitats, including mudflats, marshes, and the edges of lakes and rivers.
In the UK, it is a scarce passage migrant, seen mainly in spring and autumn. Small numbers overwinter in southern Europe, Africa, and southern Asia.
Distribution
Diet
Temminck's Stint primarily feeds on insects, including flies, beetles, and their larvae. It also consumes small crustaceans, worms, molluscs, and occasionally seeds.
The bird often forages by rapidly picking food items from the ground or water's surface; some prey is gained by probing into the wet mud with their relatively short bill, although this is less common.
Behaviour
Temminck's Stint is often solitary or found in small groups. It forages by picking insects and small invertebrates from the ground or shallow water.
During courtship, males perform aerial displays, flying in circles while calling.
Calls & Sounds
Temminck's Stint has a distinctive call, described as a high-pitched, trilling 'tirr-irr-irr', similar to the buzzy notes of a Grasshopper Warbler.
During breeding displays, males produce a repeated 'prrrt' sound. When alarmed, it may give a sharp 'pit' call.
Nesting & Breeding
Breeding occurs in the Arctic tundra from late May to July. Males perform aerial displays to attract females, flying in circles while calling.
The nest is a shallow scrape on the ground, often near water and lined with leaves and grass. The female typically lays 4 olive-green eggs with brown spots.
Both parents incubate the eggs for about 22 days. Chicks are precocial and can leave the nest shortly after hatching, fledging after 14-16 days.
The pair bond lasts for less than a week, and it’s common for females to lay in two or three nest scrapes simultaneously, where each clutch may be from a different male.
Conservation
While currently listed as Least Concern, Temminck's Stint faces threats from habitat loss and climate change.
Conservation efforts focus on protecting breeding and stopover sites along its migration routes.
Birdwatching Tips
- Look for Temminck's Stint on muddy edges of freshwater habitats
- Observe its distinctive bobbing motion while foraging
- Listen for its trilling call during the breeding season
- In the UK, watch for it during spring and autumn migrations
Did You Know?
- Temminck's Stint was named after Dutch naturalist Coenraad Jacob Temminck.
- It's one of the smallest waders in its range, often mistaken for a sparrow at a distance.
- This bird can swim well and has been observed crossing small water bodies.
- Temminck’s stints used to breed in the UK but have all but disappeared as a native species, with only a handful of nesting pairs (and sometimes none) raising young in the Scottish Highlands each year.
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