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8

Grey-tailed Tattler

(Tringa [Heteroscelus] brevipes)
Alternate name(s): "Grey-rumped Tattler", "Grey-rumped Sandpiper", "Siberian Tattler"
Size: 25-28 cm; wing span 45-55 cm
Weight: 100-140 g

Similar
species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description

Click here for a physical description

Taxonomy, classification

See Grey-tailed Tattler at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species

Click here for information on habitat and range

Sightings

Click here for sighting information

Photos

ADULT

Sex unknown

BREEDING

Near-frontal view of a Grey-tailed Tattler in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Nudgee Beach, QLD, February 2018]

Lateral view of a Grey-tailed Tattler in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Nudgee Beach, QLD, February 2018]

Grey-tailed Tattlers in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Toorbul Wader Roost, Brisbane, QLD, September 2017]

Grey-tailed Tattlers in both breeding and non-breeding plumage, together with (larger) Bar-tailed Godwits; the Grey-tailed Tattlers in breeding plumage are the two smaller birds at centre left (lateral view) and, in particular, back right (near-lateral view), with the barred front and flanks (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Wynnum Foreshore, Brisbane, QLD, August 2017]

NON-BREEDING

Near-lateral view of a Grey-tailed Tattler in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Deception Bay, QLD, February 2018]

Near-lateral view of a Grey-tailed Tattler in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Nudgee Beach, QLD, February 2018]

Lateral view of a Grey-tailed Tattler in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Mearns)
[Lady Elliot Island, near Agnes Water, QLD, January 2016]

Lateral view of a Grey-tailed Tattler in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Mearns)
[Lady Elliot Island, near Agnes Water, QLD, January 2016]

Lateral view of a Grey-tailed Tattler in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[East Point, Darwin, NT, January 2019]

Lateral view of a Grey-tailed Tattler in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Deception Bay, QLD, February 2018]

Lateral view of a Grey-tailed Tattler in non-breeding plumage; this is the bird whose call was recorded on 10 March 2020 (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Coconut Grove, Darwin, NT, March 2020]

Near-dorsal view of a Grey-tailed Tattler in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Mearns)
[Lady Elliot Island, near Agnes Water, QLD, January 2016]

Close-up near-dorsal view of a Grey-tailed Tattler in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Esplanade, Cairns, QLD, December 2018]

Close-up near-dorsal view of a Grey-tailed Tattler in non-breeding plumage, here seen preening (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Esplanade, Cairns, QLD, December 2018]

Behaviour

Grey-tailed Tattlers clearly do not mind the presence of other waders around them.

Comparison of a Grey-tailed Tattler in non-breeding plumage with a Common Greenshank, also in non-breeding plumage
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Rapid Creek, Darwin, NT, October 2019]

Comparison of a Grey-tailed Tattler in non-breeding plumage with a Common Sandpiper, also in non-breeding plumage
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Rapid Creek, Darwin, NT, October 2019]

Comparison with Bar-tailed Godwit

A series of photos comparing a Grey-tailed Tattler with a Bar-tailed Godwit is available HERE.

Food, Diet

Grey-tailed Tattler in non-breeding plumage taking a mud crab (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Esplanade, Cairns, QLD, December 2018]

Grey-tailed Tattler in non-breeding plumage taking a mud crab (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Esplanade, Cairns, QLD, December 2018]

Grey-tailed Tattler in non-breeding plumage taking a mud crab (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Esplanade, Cairns, QLD, December 2018]

Grey-tailed Tattler in non-breeding plumage digging up prey (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Deception Bay, QLD, February 2018]

Call(s)/Song

For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The interpretation of their meaning is our own; comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.

grytatt_pb_20200310.m4a (Top End, NT) Warning/departure © PB
grytatt_pb_20200310_2.m4a (Top End, NT) ? (in-flight) © PB

More Grey-tailed Tattler sound recordings are available at xeno-canto.org .

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

Would you like to contribute photos or sound recordings to this site?
If interested, please CLICK HERE. Credits to contributors are given HERE.