Appearance
Noticeably smaller than the related Dunlin. Beak short, straight and narrow-tipped. Legs black. Face and chest paler than on other sandpipers except the slightly larger Sanderling.
Size
Length 14–15.5 cm, wingspan 27–30 cm, weight 20–30 g.
Nest
In a shallow hollow by a seashore, lake or stream, lined with straw.
Breeding
4 eggs laid in June, may be incubated for 20–21 days by both parents, though some females mate with a new male after laying their eggs, and leave the male to incubate the first brood alone. Fledglings leave nest and soon start to find food for themselves, but there is no information available about how soon they learn to fly.
Distribution
Nests in tundra regions. Commonly seen along shores and in wetlands in Finland during migration seasons, especially in autumn. Finnish breeding population estimated at 0–5 pairs.
Migration
Mainly nocturnal. Passes southwards through Finland July–October, returning in May–June. Winters in Africa and southern Asian.
Diet
Invertebrates. Finds food by foraging rapidly along sandy and muddy shores.
Calls
A short, click-like “pit”.
Endangerment
Critically endangered, protected in Finland. Globally Least concern.

In Little Stints’ summer plumage, the edges of their back feathers, their flanks and their cheeks are rusty red with darker mottling, and their underparts are white. Juveniles’ have pale foreheads and a pale eyebrow strip split into two parts. Juveniles closely resemble Temminck’s Stints. The Little Stint’s best distinguishing features are the white lengthwise stripes on their backs (absent on Temminck’s Stint) and grey colouring on their tail feathers (white on Temminck’s Stint). Their legs, beak and irises are black.

Småsnäppa

Taxonomi

Klass

Ordning

Familj

Släkte

Art