26-11-2025 SOLLANA SOUTH, ALBUFERA - LITTLE STINT

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.

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.

31-7-2024 RACO DE OLLA, VALENCIA - LITTLE STINT (Calidris minuta)

The little stint (Calidris minuta or Erolia minuta) is a very small wader. It breeds in arctic Europe and Asia, and is a long-distance migrant, wintering south to Africa and south Asia. It occasionally is a vagrant to North America and to Australia. The genus name is from Ancient Greek kalidris or skalidris, a term used by Aristotle for some grey-coloured waterside birds. The specific minuta is Latin for "small.

Its small size, fine dark bill, dark legs and quicker movements distinguish this species from all waders except the other dark-legged stints. It can be distinguished from these in all plumages by its combination of a fine bill tip, unwebbed toes and long primary projection. The call is a sharp "stit".

The breeding adult has an orange wash to the breast, a white throat and a strong white V on its back. In winter plumage identification is difficult. Juveniles have pale crown stripes and a pinkish breast.

An apparent hybrid between this species and Temminck's stint has been reported from the Netherlands.

The numbers of this species (and of curlew sandpiper) depend on the population of lemmings. In poor lemming years, predatory species such as skuas and snowy owls take Arctic-breeding waders instead.

It is gregarious in winter, sometimes forming large flocks with other Calidris waders, particularly dunlin, on coastal mudflats or the edges of inland pools.

The little stint is one of the species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) applies.

This bird nests on a scrape in bare ground, laying 3–5 eggs. It is polygamous, and males and females may incubate separate clutches.

21-9-2022 EL SALER, VALENCIA - LITTLE STINT

The little stint (Calidris minuta or Erolia minuta) is a very small wader. It breeds in arctic Europe and Asia, and is a long-distance migrant, wintering south to Africa and south Asia. It occasionally is a vagrant to North America and to Australia. The genus name is from Ancient Greek kalidris or skalidris, a term used by Aristotle for some grey-coloured waterside birds. The specific minuta is Latin for "small.

7-9-2022 EL SALER, ALBUFERA - LITTLE STINT (Calidris minuta)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/3838-Calidris-minuta

Its small size, fine dark bill, dark legs and quicker movements distinguish this species from all waders except the other dark-legged stints. It can be distinguished from these in all plumages by its combination of a fine bill tip, unwebbed toes and long primary projection. The call is a sharp "stit".

The breeding adult has an orange wash to the breast, a white throat and a strong white V on its back. In winter plumage identification is difficult. Juveniles have pale crown stripes and a pinkish breast.

An apparent hybrid between this species and Temminck's stint has been reported from the Netherlands.

31-8-2022 EL SALER, VALENCIA - LITTLE STINT (Calidris minuta)

The numbers of this species (and of curlew sandpiper) depend on the population of lemmings. In poor lemming years, predatory species such as skuas and snowy owls take Arctic-breeding waders instead.

It is gregarious in winter, sometimes forming large flocks with other Calidris waders, particularly dunlin, on coastal mudflats or the edges of inland pools.

The little stint is one of the species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) applies.

24-4-2019 CREU DE LONGA, VALENCIA - LITTLE STINT (Calidris minuta)

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).

The Little Stint is a very small wading bird that breeds in the Arctic tundra of Europe and Asia and migrates to wintering grounds in Africa, South Asia, and southern Europe. Key characteristics include its small size, short, straight black bill, and black legs, with a brownish-grey back and white underside. They are often seen in flocks on estuaries and muddy shores, sometimes joining other waders like Dunlin. 

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. 

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. 

11-10-2017 DEVESA, VALENCIA - LITTLE STINT (Calidris minuta)

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.

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).