The Little Stint, scientifically known as Calidris minuta, is a diminutive wader, a member of the family Scolopacidae. It is recognized by its small stature, fine dark bill, and dark legs, which set it apart from other waders, save for its close relatives, the dark-legged stints. This species exhibits a fine bill tip, unwebbed toes, and a notable long primary projection.
This bird nests on a scrape in bare ground, laying 3–5 eggs. It is polygamous, and male and female may incubate separate clutches.
Food is small invertebrates picked off the mud.
In breeding plumage, the adult Little Stint can be identified by an orange hue on the breast, a stark white throat, and a pronounced white V on the back. Winter plumage makes identification more challenging, while juveniles can be spotted by their pale crown stripes and a faintly pinkish breast. The bird's call is a distinctive sharp "stit."
The Little Stint is found in arctic regions during the breeding season, favoring open, bare ground for nesting.
A true long-distance migrant, the Little Stint breeds in the arctic realms of Europe and Asia. When not breeding, it travels extensively to wintering grounds in Africa and south Asia. It has also been recorded as a vagrant in North America and Australia.
The Little Stint is known for its gregarious nature during the non-breeding season, often forming substantial flocks with other Calidris waders, particularly the Dunlin. These flocks are commonly seen on coastal mudflats or at the edges of inland pools.
Polygamous by nature, the Little Stint lays 3-5 eggs in a scrape on the ground. Both males and females may incubate separate clutches, a unique aspect of their breeding behavior.
The diet of the Little Stint consists of small invertebrates, which it picks off from the mud.
The Little Stint is currently listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, indicating that it is not at immediate risk of population decline. However, its numbers are influenced by the population dynamics of lemmings, which in turn affect predation rates by other Arctic species. The Little Stint is also protected under the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA).
Physical characteristics
Size: Tiny wading bird, smaller than a Dunlin.
Bill: Short, straight, and black.
Legs: Medium-length and black.
Plumage: Brownish-grey above and white underneath; in winter, it is grey above.
Juvenile appearance: Autumn birds have two pale stripes or "braces" down their back.
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Habitat and behavior
Habitat: Prefers estuaries and muddy shores of wetlands.
Social behavior: Often found in flocks, sometimes mixed with other waders.
Migration: A long-distance migrant, with most birds seen passing through the UK in autumn.
Breeding: Nests on the tundra in northern Scandinavia and Siberia.
Geographic range
Breeding: Arctic Europe and Asia.
Wintering: Africa, South Asia, and southern Europe.
Vagrant: Occasionally seen in North America and Australia.
