a rare vagrant to northern mudflats
- Size
- Length: 22-25 cm, Weight: 50-80 g
- Lifespan
- 8-10 years
- Diet
- Carnivorous - feeds on small crabs, worms, and insects. Sweeps upturned bill side to side in mud. Forages on mudflats and shallow water edges.
- Habitat
- Mudflats, estuaries, mangroves, and coastal lagoons. Prefers areas with soft mud and shallow water. Breeds in wet meadows and marshes of Siberia.
- Range
- Breeds across Siberia from Finland to eastern Russia. Winters in Africa, southern Asia, Indonesia, and Australia. A rare vagrant to New Zealand.
- Endemism
- Visitor
- Main Threats
- Wetland drainage and degradation across breeding and migration ranges. Climate change affecting Siberian breeding habitat and insect emergence. Reclamation of coastal wetlands in winter range.
- Population
- Global population estimated at 200,000-500,000 birds. In New Zealand, a rare vagrant with most records from northern harbours and estuaries.
- Conservation Status
- data_deficient
- Human Risk
- harmless
- Handling Note
- migratory wader, do not approach or disturb on feeding grounds
- Conservation Note
- Rare vagrant shorebird; not assessed for conservation status in New Zealand.
- Te Ao Māori
- The Terek sandpiper has no recognised Māori name. It is a rare vagrant rather than a resident species. It belongs to the wider family of migratory shorebirds that travel the great flyways of Asia and Australasia. Its upturned bill and distinctive call would have made it a bird of note. This applies to those rare occasions when it appeared. It is a visitor from afar. It does not stay long.
A sandpiper with an upturned bill that looks like it is smiling at you. It is a cheerful expression on a serious bird. The Terek sandpiper is named for the Terek River in Russia, where it was first described. It is a medium-sized wader. Its distinctive bill curves upward like a smile. No other sandpiper in New Zealand waters has a bill like this. It is the giveaway.
The plumage is pale grey above and white below. A dark eye stripe runs across the face, offset by a white eyebrow. The legs are orange-yellow. The bill is yellow with a black tip. The bird is handsome. It is not flashy, but it is distinctive once you know what to look for.
It feeds on small crabs, worms, and insects. It runs and pecks on mudflats. The movement is a teetering gait, bobbing its body up and down. It sweeps its upturned bill side to side in the mud, feeling for prey. This technique allows it to catch crabs that other waders might miss. It uses the bill as a sensor.
The call is a clear, ringing "tree-tree-tree". It is often given in flight. The sound is like a greenshank but higher pitched. It cuts through the noise of the harbour.
In New Zealand, Terek sandpipers are rare vagrants. Most records come from the North Island. You will find them in the Firth of Thames, Kaipara Harbour, and Manukau Harbour. Only a few birds arrive each year. Birders travel long distances to see them. They are worth the trip.
The Terek sandpiper breeds in Siberia. It chooses wet meadows and marshes. It winters in Africa, southern Asia, Indonesia, and Australia. The birds that reach New Zealand have overshot. They are off course. They are far from home.
The population is stable. The Terek sandpiper is not endangered globally. It is rare in New Zealand only because this is the edge of its range. The numbers are not encouraging for local sightings, but they are fine overall.
It is often seen in mixed flocks with other waders. Godwits, knots, and turnstones keep it company. The Terek sandpiper fits in, even if it looks different. The upturned bill sets it apart. The behaviour keeps it safe. It carries on.