The Snipe and Sandpiper Family
(Scolopacidae)
Order: Waders (Charadriiformes)
Tringa hypoleucos
With its long legs, the Common Sandpiper likes to wade through the water in search of small creatures to eat. It has a long pointed beak, which is good at picking out little animals such as shrimp.
It often flies above the water, skimming it with its beak to catch its prey.
Habitat
The Common Sandpiper can be found in rivers, streams, lakes, ponds and the coast.
It likes to eat insects, insect larvae, worms and crustaceans (such as shrimp) and molluscs (such as snails).
It builds its nest out of grass, on the ground, near the water. Four pear-shaped eggs are laid, which are brownish-yellow with brown spots.
It is mostly a summer visitor. At this time, Common Sandpipers can be found breeding in Scotland, Wales, Ireland and northern England.
During the winter they fly further south into mainland Europe, but some may still be found in southern England.
Common Sandpipers make a series of trills, including a "tweetweetweee" sound, especially as the sun is going down.
20 cm.
When standing, the Common Sandpiper has a strange habit of nodding its head and swaying its behind up and down, creating a seesaw motion.
