Little stint
A tiny Arctic-breeding wader that migrates to Africa and Asia.
Last updated
The little stint (Calidris minuta) is a very small wader that breeds in arctic Europe and Asia. It is a long-distance migrant, wintering south to Africa and south Asia, and occasionally appears as a vagrant to North America and Australia. Its genus name derives from Ancient Greek, used by Aristotle for grey waterside birds, and its specific name minuta is Latin for 'small.'
Scientific classification
- KingdomAnimalia
- PhylumChordata
- ClassAves
- OrderCharadriiformes
- FamilyScolopacidae
- GenusCalidris
- SpeciesCalidris minuta
Named by (Leisler, 1812)
Close relatives
Other species of Calidris with a Codexery entry.
- Dunlin Calidris alpina
- Buff-breasted sandpiper Calidris subruficollis
Sources: Wikipedia taxobox: Little stint (CC BY-SA 4.0) · order, family and genus agree with WoRMS AphiaID 212600 (CC BY 4.0)
Conservation status
Least Concern (LC)
- LC▲ this species
- NT
- VU
- EN
- CR
- EW
- EX
Source: IUCN Red List assessment · GBIF copy of the Red List category
Where the little stint has been recorded
Each dot is a place where the species has been observed and reported (617,859 records, half-degree grid) — not a modelled range. 259 inland records left out (institution coordinates).
Map: drawn by Codexery. Data: GBIF occurrence search (records CC0 / CC BY) · Natural Earth basemap (public domain) · place coordinates: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Quick Facts
- Known for
- Very small wader
- long-distance migrant
- polygamous nesting behavior
- Breeding range
- Arctic Europe and Asia
- Wintering range
- Africa and south Asia
Facts from the source article.
Background
The little stint is distinguished from other waders by its small size, fine dark bill, dark legs, and quick movements. It can be identified in all plumages by its fine bill tip, unwebbed toes, and long primary projection. Its call is a sharp 'stit.' Breeding adults have an orange wash on the breast, a white throat, and a strong white V on the back; winter plumage is difficult to identify, while juveniles have pale crown stripes and a pinkish breast. An apparent hybrid between this species and Temminck's stint has been reported from the Netherlands.
More in Birds of the Arctic
Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Little stint (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Classification: the source article's taxobox; order, family and genus checked against WoRMS, the World Register of Marine Species (CC BY 4.0).
- Conservation status: IUCN Red List assessment.
- Occurrence records: GBIF (CC0 / CC BY). Basemap: Natural Earth (public domain).
- Word definitions: the Codexery glossary, each quoted from its Wikipedia article.
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