Scientific name: Xenus cinereus (Guldenstadt, 1775)
Bird group: Waders
Field characters. 23 cm. A small, mainly grey and white wader. Most striking features are the long uptilted bill and the short yellow or orange legs. Upperparts in summer plumage greyish-brown, with two V-shaped black lines on mantle. In winter, upperparts plain grey. Breast slightly streaked grey, rest of underparts white. Rump grey with dark bars, tail grey. Narrow white tips to secondaries and inner primaries. Primaries, and lesser and greater coverts darker grey than median coverts. Bill dark, but base usually yellow or orange. Frequently bobs its tail, like Common Sandpiper, and often walks with its front lower than its rear, giving the impression of toppling forward.
Voice. Noisy when disturbed. Call trilling or repeated 'dudududud', intermediate between Common Redshank and Wood Sandpiper. Song melodious and full 'perrreeee, perrrreeeee'.
Distribution. Uncommon in spring, summer and autumn.
Habitat. During breeding season, in meadows and other marshy places, often near water, both in tundra and more wooded areas. Overland passage may bring individuals or small parties to fresh water mudflats, but otherwise found in tidal areas in singles or in flocks.
Food. Mainly invertebrates and seeds during breeding season. On passage and in winter invertebrates, like crabs, worms and insects.