Habitat
Lagoon spits with crowberry-lichen vegetation or dwarf birch and willow sedges. Adjacent estuary or mudflat habitats are used as feeding sites by adults during nesting.
Bangladesh (NB), China (mainland) (P), Hong Kong (China) (P), India (NB), Japan (P), Malaysia (NB), Myanmar (NB), North Korea (P), Philippines (NB), Russia (Asian) (B) (P), Singapore (NB), South Korea (P), Sri Lanka (NB), Taiwan (China) (P), Thailand (NB), Vietnam (NB) (P).
Vagrant to Canada (NB), USA (NB).
Chukotskiy Peninsula south to northern Kamchatka. Winters locally from south-eastern India and Sri Lanka to Indochina and southern China, and south to Singapore.
Population
Estimated population is 450 - 1,000 (2010) and decreasing.
Status CR
Through its migratory and wintering ranges tidal flats are being reclaimed for industry, infrastructure and aquaculture and are becoming increasingly polluted. Collection for food, human disturbance and egg collecting are also significant threats. Mist nets at shorebird roosting sites at the wintering ranges are a new threat.
For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet.
Voice
Insect-like buzzing trill, 'zhree-zhree-zhree' during aerial display. A soft 'puree, preep' or sharp 'wheet' uttered in flight.
Spoon-billed Sandpiper (Calidris pygmaea) [XC737210]
by Jens Kirkeby from Chukotka, Meinopilgino, Russian Federation (song)
Spoon-billed Sandpiper (Calidris) [XC146922]
by Jens Kirkeby from Chukotka, Meinopilgino, Russian Federation (call)
Subspecies
No subspecies.
Similar Species
Red-necked Stint (Calidris ruficollis)
Similar size. Lacks the spatulate bill. Non-breeding with non-breeding. Have less white on forehead. Head appears smaller. Supercilium is narrower. Breeding with breeding. Has less uniformly fringed rufous / brick-red fringes to scapulars.
Little Stint (Calidris minuta)
Similar size. Lacks the spatulate bill. Non-breeding with non-breeding. Have less white on forehead. Head appears smaller. Supercilium is narrower.
Compare Images
BirdLife International Species Factsheet