Birds of Mongolia

ID In breeding plumage, combination of dark chestnut-red coloration, long black decurved bill, and longish black legs is unique. (Red Knot is rufous with shorter bill and short, greenish legs). Non-breeding birds most likely to be confused with much rarer Dunlin and Broad-billed Sandpiper, but are longer-legged with more elegant, upright posture, paler head pattern and longer, more distinctly decurved bill with finer tip. In flight, white rump-patch diagnostic. Voice In flight, gives a soft purring prrrrp or chrrrup. Habitat A wide variety of open shores and wetland edges. Behaviour Often wades belly-deep as it probes in bottom sediments for prey. Forms flocks with other waders. Status Common passage migrant across Mongolia, including lakes in arid steppe and Gobi Desert, late April to early May and early to late August. Conservation Considered Near Threatened globally.

ID Bright rufous back and crown and black belly patch of breeding plumage are unique to this species. Non-breeding birds may be confused with more common Curlew Sandpiper, but are shorter-legged, ‘dumpier’ in stature and have a slightly shorter, less pointed bill than the latter. In flight, lacks distinctive white rump of Curlew Sandpiper. Voice Flight call is a harsh, buzzy whistle skrreeer or schreet. Habitat A variety of open shores and wetland edges. Behaviour Highly gregarious on migration. Probes for prey mainly at water’s edge, wading less than the longer-legged Curlew Sandpiper. Status Relatively rare passage migrant across northern Mongolia including the far east, late April to early May and mid to late August.

ID Resembles large Long-toed Stint with rufous crown and feather edgings above, a prominent white supercilium and greenish-yellow legs. Breeding adult shows distinctive arrow-headed streaks on flanks. Often appears long-necked and small-headed. Juv has diagnostic bright orange-buff breast with only light streaking. Compare Pectoral Sandpiper. Voice Flight call is a soft trrrrt or purrrri. Habitat Moist grasslands and drier edges of lake shores. Behaviour Prefers to forage in thin vegetation rather than in open. Gregarious with other waders. Often quite approachable. Status Common passage migrant across Mongolia, including far east, south to Valley of the Lakes, late April to early May and mid-August to early September.

ID A fairly large sandpiper, likely to be confused only with Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, which it resembles in general form. However, it lacks bright rufous tones and arrow-headed streaks on flanks and in all plumages shows a diagnostic sharp cut-off between a heavily streaked upper breast and white belly. Voice When flushed, gives a rough trrit or krrit similar to that of Curlew Sandpiper. Habitat Like Sharp-tailed Sandpiper. Behaviour Similar to Sharp-tailed Sandpiper. Status Vagrant. A single bird photographed at Lake Tsagaan in Norovlin district, Hentii province, 30 August 2010.

ID In autumn, might be mistaken for juv Dunlin or Curlew Sandpiper, but is slightly smaller and notably shorter-legged with bill ‘kinked’ downward at tip rather than more evenly decurved. Prominently striped head is diagnostic in all plumages, though more obscure in juv and non-breeding adult. Voice A dry, rolling Sand Martin-like chrrreep or trrrrr trrrr trrrrk in flight. Habitat Favours muddy flats and boggy edges of rivers and lakes; flocks with other waders Behaviour Moves slowly when foraging, probing deliberately rather than rapidly like stints. Often tame and approachable. Status Fairly common passage migrant in Great Lakes Depression and river valleys in Hentii range through Dornod province; also in lakes of arid steppe and Gobi, late April to early May and mid- to late August. Taxonomy Formerly placed in genus Limicola.

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SANDPIPERS V

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