Temminck's stint is a small wader. This bird's common name and Latin binomial commemorate the Dutch naturalist Coenraad Jacob Temminck. The genus name is from Ancient Greek kalidris or skalidris, a term used by Aristotle for some grey-coloured waterside birds.
Region
Palearctic (breeding), Africa and South Asia (wintering)
Typical Environment
Breeds from northern Scandinavia across the taiga and tundra belt of Russia to eastern Siberia, favoring boggy tundra, dwarf-shrub heath, and wet meadows near freshwater. On migration it passes through a wide swath of Europe, the Middle East, and Central Asia. It winters mainly in sub‑Saharan Africa, the Indian subcontinent, and Southeast Asia, reaching Indonesia. Compared with many shorebirds, it prefers inland freshwater habitats such as lakeshores, river edges, sewage ponds, and rice fields, and is less commonly found on open tidal mudflats.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 3000 m
Climate Zone
Other
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Temminck's stint is a tiny wader that breeds across the northern Palearctic and winters in Africa and Asia. Its common and scientific names commemorate the Dutch naturalist Coenraad Jacob Temminck, and the genus name derives from Ancient Greek terms for grey waterside birds. It is notably more tied to freshwater margins than many similar stints and often shows a subtle tail-wagging habit. Yellowish-green legs and white outer tail feathers help separate it from the similar Little Stint.
Eggs, Collection Museum Wiesbaden
Temperament
wary and inconspicuous
Flight Pattern
low and fast with short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Often solitary or in small loose groups outside the breeding season. On the breeding grounds pairs are dispersed, nesting on the ground in a shallow scrape near water. The species exhibits flexible breeding roles, with males often taking a leading role in incubation and brood care, and females sometimes moving to re-mate after laying. Chicks are precocial and feed themselves soon after hatching.
Migratory Pattern
Seasonal migrant
Song Description
Vocalizations are generally soft and high-pitched, including thin trills and a dry ticking call. Display flights on the breeding grounds include a delicate, rapid twittering. Alarm calls are sharper and repeated when disturbed.
