Temminck’s Stint
© Credits: Dave Bakewell, Lim Ying Hien & Stanley T Shao
SCIENTIFIC NAME
Calidris temminckii
MALAY NAME
Kedidi-Kerdil Ekor Panjang
CONSERVATION STATUS
LC
Status
Scarce migrant and non-breeding visitor.
Identification
Featureless grey, long-bodied stint with yellow legs. In flight, from other stints by pure white outer tail feathers. Ad B: (Mar-Sep) Full B plumage has not been recorded in Malaysia. Fresh B scapulars and coverts have blackish centres and chestnut edges (buff when worn). Ad Nb: (Sep – Feb)Head, breast and upperparts dull smoke grey. Eyering whitish and faintly paler throat and supercilium are sometime discernible. Belly, flanks and vent unmarked white. 1cy: (Aug-Sep) Juvenile plumage not yet recorded in Malaysia. Birds which have undergone body moult may be aged as 1cy by dark subterminal fringes and buff edges to wing coverts.
Similar Species
If seen well, unlikely to be confused with other stints. Long-toed Stint has yellow legs but is brown and scaly above and lacks elongated body. Common Sandpiper is superficially similar in both shape and distribution of colour, but is much larger and habitually bobs rear end.
Typical behaviour
Moves sluggishly when foraging, more slowly than other stints, often through vegetation.
Vocalizations
Typical flight call a high-pitched trill, almost insect-like: https://xeno-canto.org/202791
Range
Favours freshwater marshes, including paddyfields, near the coast. Occurs singly or in small numbers (<10).
Seasonality
Most frequently seen in December and January.
