Stilt Sandpiper

Calidris himantopus

Introduction

This medium-sized wader breeds in the very north of Canada and Alaska and is a rare visitor to Britain & Ireland. Although there have been records in most months, the species is typically encountered in August or September.

Key Stats

Status

Very rare

Weight

57.3g

Seasonality

<1%

BTO Records

1.2k records

Population and distribution stats for:

No data

No current data

No current data

No data

No current data

No current data

Status and Trends

Population size, trends and patterns of distribution based on BTO and partnership surveys and atlasses with data collected by BTO volunteers.

Conservation Status

Open Close

This species can be found on the following statutory and conservation listings and schedules.

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (global)

Least Concern

Schedule 1 Licence required (to disturb)*

Birds Directive Annex 1

* A guide only. Check details with the original legislation, especially those marked with an asterisk. See About Birdfacts for more information.

Population Size

Open Close

BOU Category

Source

First Record*

East Yorkshire, 1954

* First documented occurrence. Most species undoubtedly occurred before this. See About Birdfacts for more information.

Population Change

Open Close

Population trends of this scarce species are not routinely monitored.

Distribution

Open Close

This species is a rare vagrant and was recorded during Bird Atlas 2007–11 as shown on the map.

Bird Atlas distribution maps show where bird species breed or winter in Britain and Ireland. For breeding maps, larger dots indicate higher certainty the species bred in that area.

Breeding Distribution for Stilt Sandpiper

Click the map to enlarge,
or view it on Bird Atlas Mapstore.

To view and download up-to-date distribution information aggregated from across BTO and partnership surveys and schemes, see our data holdings on the NBN Atlas.

Distribution Change

Open Close

This vagrant is too rarely reported to map distribution change.

Seasonality

Open Close

Stilt Sandpiper is a very rare vagrant recorded in autumn, winter and spring.

Weekly pattern of occurrence

The graph shows when the species is present in the UK, with taller bars indicating a higher likelihood of encountering the species in appropriate regions and habitats.

Phenology graph — Weekly occurrence patterns (shaded cells and reporting rates (vertical bars) based on BirdTrack data. Reporting rates give the likelihood of encountering the species each week.

Movement

Information about Stilt Sandpiper movements and migration based on online bird portals (e.g. BirdTrack), Ringing schemes and tracking studies.

Britain & Ireland movement

Open Close

View a summary of recoveries in the Online Ringing Report

European movements

Open Close

EuroBirdPortal uses birdwatcher's records, such as those logged in BirdTrack to map the flows of birds as they arrive and depart Europe. See maps for this species here.

Biology

Lifecycle and body size information for Stilt Sandpiper, including statistics on nesting, eggs and lifespan based on BTO ringing and nest recording data.

Survival and Longevity

Open Close

Survival is shown as the proportion of birds surviving from one year to the next and is derived from bird ringing data. It can also be used to estimate how long birds typically live.

Classification, names and codes

Taxonomy, names and species codes for Stilt Sandpiper

Classification and Codes

Open Close

Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Scolopacidae
Scientific name: Calidris himantopus
Authority: Bonaparte, 1826

BTO 2-letter code: MI
BTO 5-letter code: STISA
Euring code number: 5150

Alternate species names

Open Close

Catalan: territ camallarg
Czech: jespák dlouhonohý
Danish: Klireryle
Dutch: Steltstrandloper
Estonian: pikkjalg-risla e. pikkjalg-rüdi
Finnish: pitkäkoipisirri
French: Bécasseau à échasses

German: Bindenstrandläufer
Hungarian: töcspartfutó
Icelandic: Vaðfæla
Irish: Gobadán Scodalach
Italian: Piro piro zampelunghe
Latvian: garstilbu šnibitis
Lithuanian: ilgakojis begikas
Norwegian: Styltesnipe

Polish: biegus brodzcowaty
Portuguese: maçarico-pernilongo / pilrito-pernilongo
Slovak: pobrežník dlhonohý
Slovenian: dulnik
Spanish: Correlimos zancolín
Swedish: styltsnäppa
Welsh: Pibydd Hirgoes

More Evidence

More evidence from Conservation Evidence.com

Partners

Birdfacts is based on data collected by volunteers participating in surveys that are organised and funded by BTO, RSPB, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, JNCC and other partners.

BTO

Esmée Fairbairn Foundation

JNCC

RSPB

Find a Species

Search by common or scientific name

Or view the alphabetical list of UK bird species