Sound clips and movies require Adobe Flash player. Latin nameActitis hypoleucos FamilySandpipers and allies (Scolopacidae) OverviewA smallish wader with contrasting brown upperparts and white underparts. It habitually bobs up and down, known as 'teetering', and has a distinctive flight with stiff, bowed wings. Its presence is often betayed by its three-note call which it gives as it flies off. Where to see themIn summer is breeds along fast rivers and by lakes, lochs and reservoirs in Scotland, Wales N Ireland and the north of England. In winter it may be seen along the south coast, and on spring and autumn passage it can be found elsewhere in the UK, near any freshwater areas and on some estuaries. When to see themSummer visitors arrive in March and April and leave the breeding grounds in July and August, with the young following in September. Autumn passage birds are seen from July to September and wintering birds can be seen from October onwards. What they eatInsects Estimated numbers| Europe | UK breeding* | UK wintering* | UK passage* |
|---|
| - | 12,000 pairs | 100 birds | - |
* UK breeding is the number of pairs breeding annually. UK wintering is the number of individuals present from October to March. UK passage is the number of individuals passing through on migration in spring and/or autumn. Distribution
- In the UK
- Mainly in the north and west
Please note that the map is only intended as a guide. It shows general distribution rather than detailed, localised populations. Find out more
Audio is from commercial recordings Bird Songs and Calls of Britain and Europe on 4 CDs or Bird Sounds of Europe & North-west Africa, copyright WildSounds & CEBA (www.wildsounds.com, (UK) +44 (0) 1263 741100) |