Scientific name: Calidris canutus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Bird group: Waders
Field characters. 24 cm. Easily recognised by its relatively large size and stocky build with short neck, bill and legs. In summer, head, neck and upperparts warm rufous, mottled with black and yellow. Surround of base of bill pinkish white; face, neck and underparts down to vent cinnamon; flanks with black bars, vent white. Rather like Curlew Sandpiper, but the latter is smaller and has longer legs, curved bill, and a different call. Adult in winter with dusky-grey upperparts and underparts, apart from white lower belly and vent; at close range upperparts appear scaled; head, chest and flanks streaked or barred white and dark grey. Juvenile resembles winter adult, but upperparts brownish-grey and underparts sometimes with pink wash. Bill black, legs olive-green. Feeds in densely packed flocks. In flight recognisable by pale grey rump and uniform tail without dark centre (unlike Dunlin).
Voice. Common call is a low-pitched, hoarse "knut"; a liquid, whistling "quick-ick" may be heard when taking off.
Distribution. Locally a common winter visitor; in northern Europe a rare and irregular breeder.
Habitat. Breeds in high Arctic regions in coastal lichen tundra; outside breeding season on sandy mud flats of estuaries and coasts. On passage occasionally on shores of inland freshwater lakes.
Food. In the breeding area, feeds on insects and berries; outside breeding season mainly on intertidal molluscs. Feeding methods include probing and pecking with bill; when wading up to belly, may immerse head.