Sandpiper, Marsh

Conservation status:

Common Passage Migrant and Winter Visitor

Description:

Resembles small edition of Greenshank (body size smaller than Redshank’s), but legs proportionally longer, bill straight, thin and fine-pointed and neck slimmer, face almost white, usually with distinctive supercilium; flight pattern also similar to Greenshank’s with dark wings, contrasting white tail and wedge up back, pale head and white underparts; protruding legs distinctive beyond tip of tail. Flight action rapid and more similar to smaller Wood Sandpiper, but note white wedge on lower back and long legs. Winter plumage rather uniform, paler grey than Greenshank and Wood Sandpiper with almost white face and distinctive supercilium. In breeding plumage, becomes markedly black-spotted on upperparts, head, neck, breast and flanks, and legs frequently more yellowish. Juvenile browner above.