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Common Sandpiper

The Common Sandpiper, known for its distinctive bobbing motion, thrives along shorelines worldwide. With its white underbelly and brown back, it plays a vital role as both predator and prey within aquatic ecosystems, highlighting its adaptability and resilience in diverse environments.

7 years
Lifespan
Least Concern
Conservation Status
Decreasing
Population Trend
Distribution Range of the Common Sandpiper
Actitis hypoleucos, commonly known as the Common Sandpiper, is native to the Palearctic region. Its geographical distribution includes Europe, Asia, and parts of northern Africa. During breeding seasons, it is found across temperate regions of Europe and Asia, extending from the United Kingdom and parts of Norway in the west to eastern Russia and China in the east.
Common Sandpiper's Habitat
Environmental Conditions
The Common Sandpiper typically inhabits the shores of freshwater bodies, such as rivers, lakes, ponds, and streams, as well as coastal areas during migration and wintering. It prefers habitats with open mudflats or sandy and pebbly shores where it can forage for food. The species thrives in temperate climates during the breeding season, characterized by mild to warm temperatures and moderate precipitation. In winter, it migrates to tropical and subtropical regions in Africa, southern Asia, and Australia, where the climate is warmer.
Ecological Niche
The Common Sandpiper is primarily an insectivore, feeding on small invertebrates, insects, and crustaceans found in the mud and shallow water. It plays a role in controlling insect populations and contributes to the health of aquatic ecosystems. Due to its migratory nature, the species adapts to various ecological niches throughout the year, showcasing flexibility in habitat use between breeding and non-breeding seasons.