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8

Sharp-tailed Sandpiper

(Calidris acuminata)
Alternate name(s): "Sharp-tailed Stint", "Siberian Sandpiper"
Size: 17-20 cm; wing span 42-48 cm
Weight: 45-115 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 Sharp-tailed Sandpiper 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

Lateral view of a Sharp-tailed Sandpiper in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Eastlakes Golf Course, Sydney, NSW, October 2013]

NON-BREEDING

Frontal view of a Sharp-tailed Sandpiper in transitional plumage
[Goran Lake, NSW, October 2013]

Frontal view of a Sharp-tailed Sandpiper in transitional plumage
[Dangars Lagoon, near Urulla, NSW, October 2018]

Near-lateral view of a Sharp-tailed Sandpiper in transitional plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Flat Rock, Ballina, NSW, January 2023]

Lateral view of a Sharp-tailed Sandpiper in transitional plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Flat Rock, Ballina, NSW, February 2019]

Frontal view of a Sharp-tailed Sandpiper in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Atkinson Dam, QLD, November 2018]

Frontal/near-lateral views of a Sharp-tailed Sandpipers in near-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Mearns)
[Georgina River, Camooweal, QLD, September 2019]

Close-up lateral view of a Sharp-tailed Sandpiper in non-breeding plumage
(photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Esplanade, Cairns, QLD, January 2020]

Close-up lateral view of a Sharp-tailed Sandpiper in non-breeding plumage; note the streaking on the undertail coverts
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Esplanade, Cairns, QLD, December 2018]

Lateral view of a Sharp-tailed Sandpiper in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Atkinson Dam, QLD, November 2018]

Lateral view of a Sharp-tailed Sandpiper in transitional plumage
[Dangars Lagoon, near Urulla, NSW, October 2018]

Lateral view of a Sharp-tailed Sandpiper in non-breeding plumage; note the grey appearance of this specimen compared to others
[Burren Junction, NSW, January 2016]

Lateral view of a Sharp-tailed Sandpiper in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Wynnum, QLD, December 2017]

Small flock of Sharp-tailed Sandpipers
[Goran Lake, 30 km South of Gunnedah, NSW, January 2022]

Small flock of Sharp-tailed Sandpipers
[Goran Lake, 30 km South of Gunnedah, NSW, January 2022]

Small flock of waders in non-breeding plumage on the shore of an ephemeral lake; most of them are Sharp-tailed Sandpipers, with 3 Curlew Sandpipers (down-curved black bill, black legs)
[Goran Lake, 30 km South of Gunnedah, NSW, January 2022]

Lateral view of a small flock of waders in non-breeding plumage on the shore of an ephemeral lake; most of them are Sharp-tailed Sandpipers, with 3 Curlew Sandpipers (down-curved black bill, black legs)
[Goran Lake, 30 km South of Gunnedah, NSW, January 2022]

Flock of Sharp-tailed Sandpipers in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Lake Clarendon, Gatton, QLD, January 2018]

Dorsal view of a Sharp-tailed Sandpiper in non-breeding plumage; note the streaking on the undertail coverts
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Esplanade, Cairns, QLD, December 2018]

Lateral view of a Sharp-tailed Sandpiper in non-breeding plumage in flight
[Burren Junction, NSW, January 2016]

Lateral view of a Sharp-tailed Sandpiper in non-breeding plumage next to a Pied Stilt (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Gold Scrub Lane, Lake Samsonvale, QLD, December 2019]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Adult, non-breeding (centre and right) and juvenile (left) Sharp-tailed Sandpipers on the muddy shore of an ephemeral lake
[Goran Lake, NSW, October 2013]

Near-frontal view of a juvenile Sharp-tailed Sandpiper
[Goran Lake, NSW, October 2013]

Lateral view of a juvenile Sharp-tailed Sandpiper sifting through mud and water
[Goran Lake, NSW, October 2013]

Lateral view of a juvenile Sharp-tailed Sandpiper with mud stuck to its bill
[Goran Lake, NSW, October 2013]

Near-dorsal view of a juvenile Sharp-tailed Sandpiper with mud stuck to its bill
[Goran Lake, NSW, October 2013]

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

Part of a flock of 120 Sharp-tailed Sandpipers on the bank of an ephemeral lake
[Goran Lake, NSW, April 2013]

Two out of a small flock of Sharp-tailed Sandpipers on the edge of an ephemeral wetland (photo courtesy of C. Hayne)

Lateral view of Sharp-tailed Sandpipers in flight
[Goran Lake, NSW, October 2012]

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

Behaviour

While overwintering in Australia, Sharp-tailed Sandpipers are often observed by us in flocks, with up to about 100 birds at a time.

The photo below shows that Sharp-tailed Sandpipers can sometimes also be found in man-made habitats, in this case lawn on a golf course.

Lateral view of a Sharp-tailed Sandpiper in breeding plumage on a golf course (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Eastlakes Golf Course, Sydney, NSW, October 2013]

Lateral view of a small mob of Sharp-tailed Sandpipers in non- breeding plumage in shallow water in an ephemeral wetland
[30 km S of Mungindi, NSW, February 2023]

Does oppressive tropical heat make birds aggressive? On the same day, at the same place, both Sharp-tailed Sandpipers and Wood Sandpipers were observed fighting by B. Hensen.

Juvenile Sharp-tailed Sandpipers fighting: "What 'My feeding ground'?!" (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[McMinns Lagoon, near Darwin, NT, November 2018]

Juvenile Sharp-tailed Sandpipers fighting: "What 'My feeding ground'?!" (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[McMinns Lagoon, near Darwin, NT, November 2018]

Juvenile Sharp-tailed Sandpipers fighting: "I'll show you!" (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[McMinns Lagoon, near Darwin, NT, November 2018]

Juvenile Sharp-tailed Sandpipers fighting: "Get that into you!" (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[McMinns Lagoon, near Darwin, NT, November 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.

stspipe_20140315.mp3 (NW NSW) Warning/ departure © MD

More Sharp-tailed Sandpiper 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.

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If interested, please CLICK HERE. Credits to contributors are given HERE.