26-11-2025 SOLLANA SOUTH, ALBUFERA - WOOD SANDPIPER (Tringa glareola)

The Wood Sandpiper, Tringa glareola, presents as a small wader, the most diminutive of the shanks within the Scolopacidae family. It is characterized by its fine bill, brown back, and notably longer yellowish legs, giving it a delicate appearance.

When identifying the Wood Sandpiper, look for a bird with a longer-legged stature compared to the Green Sandpiper (T. ochropus) or the Solitary Sandpiper (T. solitaria). It can be distinguished from the Green Sandpiper by its smaller and less contrasting white rump patch, while the Solitary Sandpiper lacks a white rump patch entirely.

During migration and wintering periods, the Wood Sandpiper is typically found on freshwater bodies, where it can be seen probing in shallow waters or wet mud.

The Wood Sandpiper breeds in the subarctic wetlands, ranging from the Scottish Highlands across Europe and into the Palearctic. It migrates to Africa, Southern Asia, particularly India, and Australia. Notably, vagrant birds have reached as far as the Hawaiian Islands, and it is a regular visitor to the Mariana Islands and Palau.

10-9-2025 ULLAL DEL SANTS, ALBUFERA - WOOD SANDPIPER (Tringa glareola)

The Wood Sandpiper, Tringa glareola, presents as a small wader, the most diminutive of the shanks within the Scolopacidae family. It is characterized by its fine bill, brown back, and notably longer yellowish legs, giving it a delicate appearance.

When identifying the Wood Sandpiper, look for a bird with a longer-legged stature compared to the Green Sandpiper (T. ochropus) or the Solitary Sandpiper (T. solitaria). It can be distinguished from the Green Sandpiper by its smaller and less contrasting white rump patch, while the Solitary Sandpiper lacks a white rump patch entirely.

During migration and wintering periods, the Wood Sandpiper is typically found on freshwater bodies, where it can be seen probing in shallow waters or wet mud.

The Wood Sandpiper breeds in the subarctic wetlands, ranging from the Scottish Highlands across Europe and into the Palearctic. It migrates to Africa, Southern Asia, particularly India, and Australia. Notably, vagrant birds have reached as far as the Hawaiian Islands, and it is a regular visitor to the Mariana Islands and Palau.

This species exhibits a probing foraging style, mainly consuming insects and similar small prey. It nests on the ground or may opportunistically use an abandoned tree nest of another bird species.

Breeding occurs in subarctic wetlands, with four pale green eggs laid between March and May, either on the ground or in reused nests from other bird species like the Fieldfare.

The Wood Sandpiper can be confused with the Green Sandpiper or the Solitary Sandpiper but can be differentiated by leg length, bill size, and the presence or absence of a white rump patch.

The diet consists primarily of insects and small prey, which the Wood Sandpiper forages for by probing in shallow waters or on wet mud.

The Wood Sandpiper is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, indicating a widespread and stable population. It is also protected under the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA).

16-4-2023 PEGO MARJAL, ALICANTE - WOOD SANDPIPER (Tringa glareola)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/3888-Tringa-glareola

The wood sandpiper (Tringa glareola) is a small wader. This Eurasian species is the smallest of the shanks, which are mid-sized long-legged waders of the family Scolopacidae. The genus name Tringa is the Neo-Latin name given to the green sandpiper by Aldrovandus in 1599 based on Ancient Greek trungas, a thrush-sized, white-rumped, tail-bobbing wading bird mentioned by Aristotle. 

The wood sandpiper breeds in subarctic wetlands from the Scottish Highlands across Europe and then east across the Palearctic. They migrate to Africa, Southern Asia, particularly India, and Australia. Vagrant birds have been seen as far into the Pacific as the Hawaiian Islands. In Micronesia it is a regular visitor to the Mariana Islands (where flocks of up to 32 birds are reported) and Palau; it is recorded on Kwajalein in the Marshall Islands about once per decade. This species is encountered in the western Pacific region between mid-October and mid-May. A slight westward expansion saw the establishment of a small but permanent breeding population in Scotland since the 1950s.

This bird is usually found on freshwater during migration and wintering. They forage by probing in shallow water or on wet mud, and mainly eat insects and similar small prey. T. glareola nests on the ground or uses an abandoned old tree nest of another bird, such as the fieldfare (Turdus pilaris). Four pale green eggs are laid between March and May.

Adult wood sandpipers moult all their primary feathers between August and December, whilst immature birds moult varying number of outer primaries between December and April, much closer to their departure from Africa. Immatures are also much more flexible than adults in the timing and rate of their moult and refueling. Adults and immatures which accumulate fuel loads of c.50% of their lean body mass can potentially cross distances of 2397–4490 km in one non-stop flight.

27-12-2022 CAPE POINT, GAMBIA - WOOD SANDPIPER (Tringa glareola)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/3888-Tringa-glareola

7-9-2022 EL SALER, ALBUFERA - WOOD SANDPIPER (Tringa glareola)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/3888-Tringa-glareola

31-8-2022 EL SALER, VALENCIA - WOOD SANDPIPER (Tringa glareola)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/3888-Tringa-glareola

25-4-2022 KOTU, GAMBIA - WOOD SANDPIPER (Tringa glareola)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/3888-Tringa-glareola

14-12-2021 SOLLANA, ALBUFERA - 14-12-2021 SOLLANA, ALBUFERA - WOOD SANDPIPER

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/3888-Tringa-glareola

14-3-2020 CHANGARAM WETLANDS KERALA, INDIA - WOOD SANDPIPER (Tringa glareola)

17-4-2019 ALBUFERA, VALENCIA - WOOD SANDPIPER (Tringa glareola)

The Wood Sandpiper, Tringa glareola, presents as a small wader, the most diminutive of the shanks within the Scolopacidae family. It is characterized by its fine bill, brown back, and notably longer yellowish legs, giving it a delicate appearance.

When identifying the Wood Sandpiper, look for a bird with a longer-legged stature compared to the Green Sandpiper (T. ochropus) or the Solitary Sandpiper (T. solitaria). It can be distinguished from the Green Sandpiper by its smaller and less contrasting white rump patch, while the Solitary Sandpiper lacks a white rump patch entirely.

During migration and wintering periods, the Wood Sandpiper is typically found on freshwater bodies, where it can be seen probing in shallow waters or wet mud.

The Wood Sandpiper breeds in the subarctic wetlands, ranging from the Scottish Highlands across Europe and into the Palearctic. It migrates to Africa, Southern Asia, particularly India, and Australia. Notably, vagrant birds have reached as far as the Hawaiian Islands, and it is a regular visitor to the Mariana Islands and Palau.

This species exhibits a probing foraging style, mainly consuming insects and similar small prey. It nests on the ground or may opportunistically use an abandoned tree nest of another bird species.

Breeding occurs in subarctic wetlands, with four pale green eggs laid between March and May, either on the ground or in reused nests from other bird species like the Fieldfare.

The Wood Sandpiper can be confused with the Green Sandpiper or the Solitary Sandpiper but can be differentiated by leg length, bill size, and the presence or absence of a white rump patch.

The diet consists primarily of insects and small prey, which the Wood Sandpiper forages for by probing in shallow waters or on wet mud.

The Wood Sandpiper is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, indicating a widespread and stable population. It is also protected under the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA).

10-4-2019 ALBUFERA, VALENCIA - WOOD SANDPIPER (Tringa glareola)

27-3-2019 MARJAL DE MOROS, VALENCIA - WOOD SANDPIPER (Tringa glareola)

The wood sandpiper is a small wader with dark, speckled upperparts, a white underbody, and yellow legs, identified by a distinctive white stripe over its eye. It is a migratory bird that breeds in northern Europe and Asia and winters in Africa or Asia. During its spring and autumn migrations, it stops at inland freshwater wetlands to rest and refuel. Key features in flight include a square white rump and no wing bars. 

Identification

Appearance: A small, slim wader with dark grey-brown upperparts that are speckled or spotted, and a white underbody with a mottled breast.

Key features:

A conspicuous white stripe from the bill over the eye.

Yellowish legs.

Fine, straight bill.

In flight:

A square white rump is revealed.

No wing bars are visible. 

Habitat and behavior

Habitat: Prefers inland freshwater wetlands, such as ponds and pools, often with reeds, grass, and other emergent vegetation.

Behavior:

Can be found singly or in small flocks.

Is wary and will fly away if disturbed, often in a zig-zag pattern.

The flight is strong with clipped wing beats, and they may call with a quickly repeated, reedy whistle. 

Migration

Migration routes: They are passage migrants in spring and autumn, traveling between their breeding grounds in northern Europe and Asia and their wintering grounds in Africa and southern Asia.

Stopovers: They use small, shallow wetlands to refuel during their long journeys.

Flight: Capable of flying non-stop for long distances, storing up to half their body weight in fuel for the journey. 

Distribution

Breeding: Primarily breeds across northern Europe and Asia, including Scandinavia, the Baltic countries, and Russia.

5-9-2018 ALBUFERA, VALENCIA - WOOD SANDPIPER (Tringa glareola)

The Wood Sandpiper, Tringa glareola, presents as a small wader, the most diminutive of the shanks within the Scolopacidae family. It is characterized by its fine bill, brown back, and notably longer yellowish legs, giving it a delicate appearance.

When identifying the Wood Sandpiper, look for a bird with a longer-legged stature compared to the Green Sandpiper (T. ochropus) or the Solitary Sandpiper (T. solitaria). It can be distinguished from the Green Sandpiper by its smaller and less contrasting white rump patch, while the Solitary Sandpiper lacks a white rump patch entirely.

During migration and wintering periods, the Wood Sandpiper is typically found on freshwater bodies, where it can be seen probing in shallow waters or wet mud.

The Wood Sandpiper breeds in the subarctic wetlands, ranging from the Scottish Highlands across Europe and into the Palearctic. It migrates to Africa, Southern Asia, particularly India, and Australia. Notably, vagrant birds have reached as far as the Hawaiian Islands, and it is a regular visitor to the Mariana Islands and Palau.

This species exhibits a probing foraging style, mainly consuming insects and similar small prey. It nests on the ground or may opportunistically use an abandoned tree nest of another bird species.

Breeding occurs in subarctic wetlands, with four pale green eggs laid between March and May, either on the ground or in reused nests from other bird species like the Fieldfare.

The Wood Sandpiper can be confused with the Green Sandpiper or the Solitary Sandpiper but can be differentiated by leg length, bill size, and the presence or absence of a white rump patch.

The diet consists primarily of insects and small prey, which the Wood Sandpiper forages for by probing in shallow waters or on wet mud.

The Wood Sandpiper is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, indicating a widespread and stable population. It is also protected under the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA).

16-5-2018 ALBUFERA, VALENCIA - WOOD SANDPIPER (Tringa glareola)

The Wood Sandpiper, Tringa glareola, presents as a small wader, the most diminutive of the shanks within the Scolopacidae family. It is characterized by its fine bill, brown back, and notably longer yellowish legs, giving it a delicate appearance.

When identifying the Wood Sandpiper, look for a bird with a longer-legged stature compared to the Green Sandpiper (T. ochropus) or the Solitary Sandpiper (T. solitaria). It can be distinguished from the Green Sandpiper by its smaller and less contrasting white rump patch, while the Solitary Sandpiper lacks a white rump patch entirely.

During migration and wintering periods, the Wood Sandpiper is typically found on freshwater bodies, where it can be seen probing in shallow waters or wet mud.

The Wood Sandpiper breeds in the subarctic wetlands, ranging from the Scottish Highlands across Europe and into the Palearctic. It migrates to Africa, Southern Asia, particularly India, and Australia. Notably, vagrant birds have reached as far as the Hawaiian Islands, and it is a regular visitor to the Mariana Islands and Palau.