The Moorea sandpiper is an extinct member of the large wader family Scolopacidae that was endemic to Mo'orea in French Polynesia, where the locals called it te-te in the Tahitian language.
Region
Society Islands
Typical Environment
Historically restricted to Mo'orea, it occupied lowland riparian corridors, stream mouths, and sheltered lagoon shorelines. Contemporary accounts suggest it frequented pebble- and sand-bottomed streams and adjacent thickets, often foraging along damp margins rather than exposed surf beaches. It likely used coastal flats, mangrove-like shrub zones, and open patches within lowland forest edges. As an island endemic, its range was extremely limited, increasing vulnerability to disturbance.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 300 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Known only from early 19th‑century accounts and a painting by William Ellis, the Moorea sandpiper was a small Polynesian shorebird endemic to Mo'orea. It likely declined rapidly after human arrival due to introduced predators such as rats and cats, and habitat alteration along streams and coasts. It was closely related to the Tahiti and Tuamotu sandpipers, a unique island lineage that often foraged well away from open beaches.
Temperament
wary and elusive
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats, low over water
Social Behavior
Likely occurred singly, in pairs, or small family groups along quiet streams and lagoon edges. Ground nester typical of small sandpipers, probably with monogamous pairs during the breeding season. Nesting and rearing details were never formally recorded, but behavior likely paralleled related Prosobonia species.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Described as having sharp, thin piping notes typical of small sandpipers. Calls were presumably given in short bursts during foraging and when flushed into flight.
Plumage
Mottled brown upperparts with fine buff streaking, paler brown to buff underparts, and subtle patterning suited for camouflage along stony streams. Feathers appeared slightly glossy on the mantle with a subdued contrast between back and breast.
Diet
Primarily small invertebrates gleaned from wet stones, leaf litter, and mud, including aquatic insects, larvae, and small crustaceans. It likely probed and picked methodically along stream margins and shallow pools. Occasional consumption of small worms and other soft-bodied prey was probable, as in related species. Foraging was mainly visual, with quick darting movements and short pauses.
Preferred Environment
Sheltered freshwater and brackish edges such as stream banks, lagoon shallows, and quiet inlets with ample cover. It favored microhabitats with exposed pebbles, wet sand, and drift lines that concentrate invertebrates.
