Thegreen sandpiper (Tringa ochropus) is a smallwader (shorebird) of theOld World.
The green sandpiper represents an ancient lineage of the genusTringa; its only close living relative is thesolitary sandpiper (T. solitaria). They both have brown wings with little light dots and a delicate but contrasting neck and chest pattern. In addition, both species nest in trees, unlike most otherscolopacids.[2]
This species is a somewhat plumpwader with a dark greenish-brown back and wings, greyish head and breast and otherwise white underparts. The back is spotted white to varying extents, being maximal in the breeding adult, and less in winter and young birds. The legs and short bill are both dark green.
It is conspicuous and characteristically patterned in flight, with the wings dark above and below and a brilliant white rump. The latter feature reliably distinguishes it from the slightly smaller but otherwise very similarsolitary sandpiper (T. solitaria) ofNorth America.
In flight it has a characteristic three-note whistle.
The green sandpiper breeds across subarcticEurope and east across thePalearctic and is amigratorybird, wintering in southern Europe, theIndian Subcontinent,Southeast Asia, and tropicalAfrica. Food is small invertebrate items picked off the mud as this species works steadily around the edges of its chosen pond.
This is not a gregarious species, although sometimes small numbers congregate in suitable feeding areas. Green sandpiper is very much a bird offreshwater, and is often found in sites too restricted for other waders, which tend to like a clear all-round view.
.jpg)
_W_IMG_6454.jpg)
