Photo: Alnus / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Terek Sandpiper
Xenus cinereus
Terek Sandpiper (Xenus cinereus) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of Europe & Northern Asia.
Found across 20 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Terek Sandpiper (Xenus cinereus) is a member of the Scolopacidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 78.8 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Charadriiformes
- Family Scolopacidae Sandpipers, Snipes
- Genus Xenus
- Species cinereus
Where it lives
Low Arctic to temperate tundra and taiga floodplains of north-central Palearctic: Finland and Ukraine east through Russia to east-central Chukotskiy Pen., northern Kamchatka and south to western Amurland (eastern Russia)
Quick facts
- Weight
- 78.8 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Scolopacidae
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Terek Sandpiper hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of open grassland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Terek Sandpiper is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Terek Sandpiper (Xenus cinereus) is a member of the Scolopacidae family, within the order Charadriiformes. It is found across Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers PAL low Arctic to temperate tundra and taiga floodplains of nc Palearctic: Finland and Ukraine e through Russia to ec Chukotskiy Pen., n Kamchatka and s to w Amurland (e Russia).
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 78.8 g, with a wing length of about 12.7 cm and a tail of around 5.5 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 11.6 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Terek Sandpiper?
The Terek Sandpiper is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 78.8 g.
Where does the Terek Sandpiper live?
The Terek Sandpiper is found across Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL low Arctic to temperate tundra and taiga floodplains of nc Palearctic: Finland and Ukraine e through Russia to ec Chukotskiy Pen., n Kamchatka and s to w Amurland (e Russia), where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Terek Sandpiper belong to?
The Terek Sandpiper (Xenus cinereus) belongs to the Scolopacidae family, in the order Charadriiformes.
What does the Terek Sandpiper eat?
The Terek Sandpiper hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Terek Sandpiper migrate?
The Terek Sandpiper is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Terek Sandpiper endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Terek Sandpiper make?
1 real field recording of the Terek 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 Terek Sandpiper's range?
The Terek Sandpiper has a mapped global range of about 11.6 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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