Common Sandpiper
Actitis hypo
Inland water shorelines. Upperparts and breast-band dark brown; below white extending around the folded wing; white upper tail barred brown.
Allied Waders, Sandpipers
LC
Not Endemic
Description
Common summer visitor, a few all year. Has diagnostic white pectoral region showing above folded wing. Medium-short, robust bill and habit of frequently bobbing its hindquarters. In flight shows no white rump, but faint wing-bar and white outer tail feathers. When flushed, utters a shrill ‘twee-wee-wee’ and flies away; flies low with stiff, downward-bowed wings, flapping with sporadic flicking action below the horizontal. Occurs singly on shores of rivers, lakes, dams, estuaries and rocky coasts.
Quick Facts
Size
20 cm - M
Names
A: Gewone Ruiter
Z: ucijomhlope
Ss: Mosalakatane Wa Lebopo
G: Flußuferläufer
Bird Family
A group of small birds usually found along shorelines and wading in shallow water. They usually have longish legs and bills for probing mud, feeding on small insects and invertebrates. Species breed in northern regions and during this time the males assume richly coloured plumage. They migrate south in drab non-breeding plumage at the start of the southern hemisphere summer. Illustrations depict the species in non-breeding plumage, unless otherwise indicated.
Distribution
Gallery
Behaviour
Breeding
Habitat
Occurs singly on shores of rivers, lakes, dams, estuaries and rocky coasts.
