Terek Sandpiper

The Terek sandpiper is a small wader, 22–25cm long and slightly larger than a common sandpiper, made distinctive by its long, upcurved bill, recalling an avocet's but less strongly curved, which is yellowish at the base and black beyond. As its scientific name suggests, it has a grey back, face and breast in all plumages, with a whitish belly, a more or less distinct white eyebrow and yellow feet. The call is a high whistle. It is the only member of its genus and is named after the Terek River near the Caspian Sea (Wikipedia, general species account).

It breeds near water in the taiga from Finland across northern Siberia to the Kolyma River, and migrates south to winter on tropical coasts in East Africa, South Asia and Australia, usually preferring muddy areas. It is more closely related to the shanks, tattlers and phalaropes than to the typical Calidris sandpipers, and has no subspecies. In India it is a winter migrant with a moderate range. SoIB 2023 estimates a long-term decline of about 81% and a current fall of about 7% a year, and rates it a High conservation priority (Wikipedia, general species account; SoIB 2023).