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8

Red-necked Stint

(Calidris ruficollis)
Alternate name(s): "Red-necked Sandpiper"
Size: 13-16 cm; wing span 35-38 cm
Weight: 15-50 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 Red-necked Stint 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

Frontal view of a Red-necked Stint in near-breeding plumage
[Bundjalung NP, NSW, February 2012]

Lateral view of a Red-necked Stint in near-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Lee Point, Darwin, NT, March 2013]

Near-dorsal view of a Red-necked Stint moulting into fresh breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Nudgee Beach, QLD, February 2018]

Lateral view of a Red-necked Stint in worn plumage (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Lee Point, Darwin, NT, August 2013]

The same Red-necked Stint as above, now seen stretching (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Lee Point, Darwin, NT, August 2013]

Frontal view of a Red-necked Stint in transitional plumage that is just starting to moult into breeding plumage
[Bundjalung NP, NSW, February 2012]

NON-BREEDING

Frontal view of a Red-necked Stint in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Flat Rock, Ballina, NSW, January 2023]

Frontal view of a Red-necked Stint in non-breeding plumage
[Lee Point beach, Darwin, NT, August 2014]

Near-frontal view of a Red-necked Stint in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Alfred Cove, Swan River, Perth, WA, January 2017]

Near-lateral view of a Red-necked Stint in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Flat Rock, Ballina, NSW, January 2023]

Near-lateral view of a Red-necked Stint in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Alfred Cove, Swan River, Perth, WA, January 2017]

Near-lateral view of a Red-necked Stint in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Nudgee Beach, QLD, November 2018]

Close-up lateral view of a Red-necked Stint in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Port of Brisbane Wader Roost, Brisbane, QLD, December 2018]

Lateral view of a Red-necked Stint in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Government Lake, Rottnest Island, WA, February 2016]

Lateral view of a Red-necked Stint in non-breeding plumage foraging in shallow water (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Government Lake, Rottnest Island, WA, February 2016]

Lateral view of a Red-necked Stint in non-breeding plumage foraging in shallow water (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Flat Rock, Ballina, NSW, February 2019]

Lateral view of a Red-necked Stint in non-breeding plumage; note how the characteristic small hind toe is clearly visible
(photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Alfred Cove, Swan River, Perth, WA, January 2017]

Lateral view of a Red-necked Stint in non-breeding plumage; note how the characteristic small hind toe is clearly visible
(photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Alfred Cove, Swan River, Perth, WA, January 2017]

Lateral view of two Red-necked Stints in non-breeding plumage, one of which with very worn feathers
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Port of Brisbane Wader Roost, Brisbane, QLD, December 2018]

Lateral view of a Red-necked Stint in non-breeding plumage
[Bundjalung NP, NSW, February 2012]

Here one Red-necked Stint stretches a wing, exposing the upperwing pattern
[Bundjalung NP, NSW, February 2012]

Near-dorsal view of a Red-necked Stint in non-breeding plumage resting in wheat chaff
[Goran Lake, near Gunnedah, NSW, February 2022]

Dorsal view of a Red-necked Stint in non-breeding plumage
[Bundjalung NP, NSW, February 2012]

Two Red-necked Stints in non-breeding plumage taking a bath
[Bundjalung NP, NSW, February 2012]

Comparison of a Red-necked Stint in non-breeding plumage (left) with a Red-capped Plover in non-breeding plumage, on the right; note the similar sizes (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Lee Point, Darwin, NT, March 2013]

Comparison of Red-necked Stints in non-breeding plumage, left, with a Sanderling in non-breeding plumage, on the right; note the difference in size (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Lee Point, Darwin, NT, July 2013]

Small group of Red-necked Stints resting together with Ruddy Turnstones
[Bundjalung NP, NSW, February 2012]

Dorsal view of a Red-necked Stint at take-off, displaying its upperwing pattern (photo courtesy of R. Druce)
[Goran Lake, NSW, December 2012]

Dorsal view of a (small flock of) Red-necked Stint(s) in flight (photo courtesy of R. Druce)
[Goran Lake, NSW, December 2012]

Red-necked Stints in flight in a small flock, together with Red-capped Plovers and Sharp-tailed Sandpipers
[Goran Lake, NSW, October 2012]

Dorsal view of Red-necked Stints in non-breeding plumage in flight
[Lee Point beach, Darwin, NT, August 2014]

"Assortment" of waders, with two Lesser Sandplovers in near-breeding plumage, centre and front left,, one Ruddy Turnstone in breeding plumage (front right), a second Ruddy Turnstone in non-breeding plumage (front centre), one Greater Sand Plover in breeding plumage (centre right) and a second Greater Sand Plover in non-breeding plumage (towards the back right); on the right and front right there are also two Red-necked Stints (the smallest birds in the photo) in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Lee Point, Darwin, NT, March 2013]

Behaviour

Long-distance migratory birds such as Red-necked Stints need their rest - here they are using a mob of (usually quite alert, but not panicky) Red-capped Plovers as their "sentries" while snoozing
[Goran Lake, NSW, February 2022]

Closer look at one Red-necked Stint + Red-capped Plovers "pair"
[Goran Lake, NSW, February 2022]

7 Red-necked Stints associating with a mob of ca. 70 Red-capped Plovers
[Goran Lake, NSW, February 2022]

Food, Diet

Red-necked Stints feeding in a group
[Lee Point beach, Darwin, NT, August 2014]

Here one can see how Red-necked Stints sift through the wash on the sand for crustaceans and other small animals
[Lee Point beach, Darwin, NT, August 2014]

Red-necked Stint in non-breeding plumage digging prey out of the sand of a beach (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Alfred Cove, Swan River, Perth, WA, January 2017]

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.

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