White-rumped Sandpiper

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Habitat and behaviour

Habitat: Wet mud (autumn passage).
Diet: Invertebrates.
Best time to spot: White rump in flight.

When to look

Scarce or local in the UK. Timing varies by region, so check recent sightings before you travel. Numbers peak in May. See the May birding guide for what else is about. More on the season in Bird migration in Britain.

Taller bars mean more birds about. Grey means it is usually absent.

How rare is it?

The White-rumped Sandpiper sits in our Rare tier for the UK: scarce or very local, so most birders need a planned trip. It is not on the Red or Amber lists in Birds of Conservation Concern 5.

Recent UK sightings

Similar birds

• Curlew SandpiperRare · Estuaries (autumn passage)
• Little StintRare · Estuaries (autumn passage)
• Pectoral SandpiperRare · Wet meadows (autumn passage)
• Buff-breasted SandpiperRare · Short grass (autumn passage)
• Temminck's StintRare · Pools (rare passage)
• Broad-billed SandpiperEpic · Pools (very rare passage)

Kit that helps

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