Photo: MadsSyndergaard / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Critically Endangered

Shorebirds

Spoon-billed Sandpiper

Calidris pygmaea

Spoon-billed Sandpiper (Calidris pygmaea) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of Europe & Northern Asia.

Field guide · LocationsWhere to see this bird

Found across 20 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.

Regional checklists

Birds of Canada Birds of Indonesia Birds of India Birds of Japan Birds of Malaysia Birds of the Philippines Birds of Thailand Birds of the United States Birds of British Columbia Birds of Alaska

By family

Sandpipers & Allies of Canada Sandpipers & Allies of Indonesia Sandpipers & Allies of India Sandpipers & Allies of Japan Sandpipers & Allies of Malaysia Sandpipers & Allies of the Philippines Sandpipers & Allies of Thailand Sandpipers & Allies of the United States Sandpipers & Allies of British Columbia Sandpipers & Allies of Alaska

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The Spoon-billed Sandpiper (Calidris pygmaea) is a member of the Scolopacidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 31.7 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Critically Endangered.

Conservation status

IUCN Red List

CR Critically Endangered

Facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.

Where it fits

Class Aves
Order Charadriiformes
Family Scolopacidae Sandpipers, Snipes
Genus Calidris
Species pygmaea

Where it lives

Coastal low Arctic to subarctic tundra of northeastern Siberia: northeastern, eastern Chukotskiy Pen. to northern Kamchatka Pen. (northeastern Russia)

Europe & Northern Asia

Quick facts

Weight: 31.7 g
Diet: Aquatic hunters
Family: Scolopacidae
Order: Charadriiformes
Habitat: Wetland, lake & coast

How to identify

Similar birds

Near Threatened

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Spoon-billed Sandpiper hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.

Behaviour

A bird of coastal habitats, it forages mainly on the ground.

Migration

The Spoon-billed Sandpiper is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.

The Spoon-billed Sandpiper (Calidris pygmaea) is a species of bird in the Scolopacidae family, part of the order Charadriiformes. It is found across Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers PAL coastal low Arctic to subarctic tundra of ne Siberia: ne, e Chukotskiy Pen. to n Kamchatka Pen. (ne Russia).

It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 31.7 g, with a wing length of about 9.9 cm and a tail of around 3.7 cm.

It is classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Critically Endangered is the highest risk category before extinction in the wild.

Its mapped global range covers an estimated 54,000 km².

Songs & calls

Spoon-billed Sandpiper — Call

Recorded by 雪鼬 Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Spoon-billed Sandpiper?

The Spoon-billed Sandpiper is a small bird that weighs around 31.7 g.

Where does the Spoon-billed Sandpiper live?

The Spoon-billed Sandpiper is found across Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL coastal low Arctic to subarctic tundra of ne Siberia: ne, e Chukotskiy Pen. to n Kamchatka Pen. (ne Russia), where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.

What family does the Spoon-billed Sandpiper belong to?

The Spoon-billed Sandpiper (Calidris pygmaea) belongs to the Scolopacidae family, in the order Charadriiformes.

What does the Spoon-billed Sandpiper eat?

The Spoon-billed Sandpiper hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.

Does the Spoon-billed Sandpiper migrate?

The Spoon-billed Sandpiper is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.

Is the Spoon-billed Sandpiper endangered?

It is classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Critically Endangered is the highest risk category before extinction in the wild.

What sound does the Spoon-billed Sandpiper make?

1 real field recording of the Spoon-billed Sandpiper — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.

How large is the Spoon-billed Sandpiper's range?

The Spoon-billed Sandpiper has a mapped global range of about 54,000 km².