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Sharp-tailed SandpiperAlternate name(s): "Sharp-tailed Stint", "Siberian Sandpiper" Size: 17-20 cm; wing span 42-48 cm Weight: 45-115 g |
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Similar |
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Photos |
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ADULT |
Sex unknown |
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BREEDING |
Lateral view of a Sharp-tailed Sandpiper in breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Eastlakes Golf Course, Sydney, NSW, October 2013]
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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]
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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]
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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]
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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
.