2-1-2024 CALYPSO BAR, GAMBIA - COMMON SANDPIPER (Actitis hypoleucos)

The common sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos) is a small Palearctic wader. This bird and its American sister species, the spotted sandpiper (A. macularia), make up the genus Actitis. They are parapatric and replace each other geographically; stray birds of either species may settle down with breeders of the other and hybridize. Hybridization has also been reported between the common sandpiper and the green sandpiper, a basal species of the closely related shank genus Tringa.

The common sandpiper breeds across most of temperate and subtropical Europe and Asia, and migrates to Africa, southern Asia and Australia in winter. The eastern edge of its migration route passes by Palau in Micronesia, where hundreds of birds may gather for a stop-over. They depart the Palau region for their breeding quarters around the last week of April to the first week of May.

23-8-2023 CATARROJA, VALENCIA - COMMON SANDPIPER (Actitis hypoleucos)

The common sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos) is a small Palearctic wader. This bird and its American sister species, the spotted sandpiper (A. macularia), make up the genus Actitis. They are parapatric and replace each other geographically; stray birds of either species may settle down with breeders of the other and hybridize. Hybridization has also been reported between the common sandpiper and the green sandpiper, a basal species of the closely related shank genus Tringa.

The common sandpiper breeds across most of temperate and subtropical Europe and Asia, and migrates to Africa, southern Asia and Australia in winter. The eastern edge of its migration route passes by Palau in Micronesia, where hundreds of birds may gather for a stop-over. They depart the Palau region for their breeding quarters around the last week of April to the first week of May.

It nests on the ground near freshwater. When threatened, the young may cling to their parent's body to be flown away to safety.

The common sandpiper forages by sight on the ground or in shallow water, picking up small food items such as insects, crustaceans and other invertebrates; it may even catch insects in flight.

27-12-2022 CAPE POINT, GAMBIA - COMMON SANDPIPER (Actitis hypoleucos)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/3978-Actitis-hypoleucos

21-12-2022 KOTU, GAMBIA - COMMON SANDPIPER (Actitis hypoleucos)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/3978-Actitis-hypoleucos

27-11-2022 SUECA, ALBUFERA - COMMON SANDPIPER (Actitis hypoleucos)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/3978-Actitis-hypoleucos

14-10-2022 CREU DE LONGA, VALENCIA - COMMON SANDPIPER (Actitis hypoleucos)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/3978-Actitis-hypoleucos

14-9-2022 EL SALER, ALBUFERA - COMMON SANDPIPER (Actitis hypoleucos)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/3978-Actitis-hypoleucos

7-9-2022 EL SALER, ALBUFERA - COMMON SANDPIPER (Actitis hypoleucos)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/3978-Actitis-hypoleucos

2-2-2022 MUNTANYETA DEL SANS, VALENCIA - COMMON SANDPIPER (Actitis hypoleucos)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/3978-Actitis-hypoleucos

14-12-2021 EL PALMAR, ALBUFERA - COMMON SANDPIPER (Actitis hypoleucos)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/3978-Actitis-hypoleucos

28-7-2021 PEGO MARJAL, ALICANTE - COMMON SANDPIPER (Actitis hypoleucos)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/3978-Actitis-hypoleucos

19-4-2021 DEVESES, VALENCIA - COMMON SANDPIPER (Actitis hypoleucos)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/3978-Actitis-hypoleucos

6-12-2020 MARJALES DE INTERIOR, ALBUFERA - COMMON SANDPIPER (Actitis hypoleucos)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/3978-Actitis-hypoleucos

 

6-12-2020 MARJALES DE INTERIOR, ALBUFERA - COMMON SANDPIPER (Actitis hypoleucos)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/3978-Actitis-hypoleucos

 

17-4-2016 VILLALONGA RESERVOIR, VALENCIA - COMMON SANDPIPER (Actitis hypoleucos)

The common sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos ) is a small Palearctic wader. This bird and its American sister species, the spotted sandpiper (A. macularia ), make up the genus Actitis. They are parapatric and replace each other geographically; stray birds of either species may settle down with breeders of the other and hybridize. Hybridization has also been reported between the common sandpiper and the green sandpiper, a basal species of the closely related shank genus Tringa.

The adult is 18–20 cm (7.1–7.9 in) long with a 32–35 cm (13–14 in) wingspan. It has greyish-brown upperparts, white underparts, short dark-yellowish legs and feet, and a bill with a pale base and dark tip. In winter plumage, they are duller and have more conspicuous barring on the wings, though this is still only visible at close range. Juveniles are more heavily barred above and have buff edges to the wing feathers.

This species is very similar to the slightly larger spotted sandpiper (A. macularia ) in non-breeding plumage. But its darker legs and feet and the crisper wing pattern (visible in flight) tend to give it away, and of course they are only rarely found in the same location.

The common sandpiper breeds across most of temperate and subtropical Europe and Asia, and migrates to Africa, southern Asia and Australia in winter. The eastern edge of its migration route passes by Palau in Micronesia, where hundreds of birds may gather for a stop-over. They depart the Palau region for their breeding quarters around the last week of April to the first week of May.

The common sandpiper forages by sight on the ground or in shallow water, picking up small food items such as insects, crustaceans and other invertebrates; it may even catch insects in flight.

It nests on the ground near freshwater. When threatened, the young may cling to their parent's body to be flown away to safety.

23-1-2020 TANCAT DE L'ILLA, VALENCIA - COMMON SANDPIPER (Actitis hypoleucos)

22-7-2019 VILLALONGA RESERVOIR, VALENCIA - COMMON SANDPIPER (Actitis hypoleucos)

1-5-2019 CREU DE LONGA, VALENCIA - COMMON SANDPIPER (Actitis hypoleucos)