Marsh Sandpiper
Scientific Name: Tringa stagnatilisMaltese Name: Cewcewwa Zghira
Family: Sandpipers and allies (Scolopacidae)
Occurence: Scarce
Breeds in Malta: No
Overview:
The Marsh Sandpiper is a small wading bird. It resembles a small elegant Greenshank, with a long fine bill and very long yellowish legs. Like the Greenshank, it is greyish brown in breeding plumage, paler in winter, and has a white wedge up its back that is visible in flight. However, it is more closely related to the Common Redshank and the Wood Sandpiper. It is a migratory species, with majority of birds wintering in Africa, and India with fewer migrating to Southeast Asia and Australia. They prefer to winter on fresh water wetlands such as swamps and lakes and are usually seen singly or in small groups. These birds forage by probing in shallow water or on wet mud. They mainly eat insects, and similar small prey.
Status:
Scarce Wader. Normally recorded in singles or doubles during migration.
When to See:
Most commonly seen in Spring from mid-march till early May but is rarer in Autumn from late August till early October.
Where to See:
Mainly recorded at Ghadira Nature Reserve.
Photographs:
 |
Marsh Sandpiper (summer plumage), Ghadira Nature Reserve |
 |
Marsh Sandpiper (winter plumage), Ghadira Nature Reserve |
Back to Bird Species List