A fairly large wader with long, greenish (rarely yellowish) legs and toes. Larger than the marsh sandpiper, with a heavier, slightly upturned bill with grey-green base (not all dark, needle-like bill of the marsh sandpiper) and relatively shorter legs. In flight, toes don’t extend as far beyond the tail tip and both species have rather plain upperwing contrasting with white back and rump. Tail mainly white with fine brown bars along the outer edge.
Breeding adults are more heavily streaked on head and neck.
Juvenile is darker and browner above with buff feather fringes in fresh plumage.30 – 34 cm. 140 – 250 g. 68 cm wingspan.
Common Palearctic breeding summer migrant at coastal and freshwater wetlands, where many overwinter. Roosts communally at high tide in coastal localities. Regional populations can reach up to 30,000 birds.
Birds of Southern Africa (2020).
F*CK FISH 