Grey-tailed Tattler

Catch crabs on the shore.

Scientific name	Heteroscelus brevipes
English name	Grey-tailed Tattler
Japanese name	黄脚鷸
Classification	Aves
Classification details	Charadriiformes Scolopacidae
Full length	25cm
Distribution	Fly to various parts of Japan as a migratory bird

Characteristics

A sandpiper with yellow legs comes to the tidal flat. The dorsum of the body is brownish gray, with vertical stripes on the neck and striated stripes on the belly. The legs are short and yellow. There is a white eye ring around the eye, and the eye line is slightly dark brown. It cries with a voice of "Pewy pewy".

Differences from the Common Redshank

On the Pacific side, the red-bellied sandpiper, which is very similar to the red-shanked sandpiper, also comes flying. It is not easy to distinguish between the two species, but the Snipe's belly is more striated and the tail feathers are darker.

Ecology

They come to tidal flats and estuaries. When there are many, they move in flocks of about 100 birds and catch and eat insects and crustaceans on shallow shores. When resting, it climbs to slightly higher places such as rocks or tetrapods. They breed in Siberia and the Kamchatka Peninsula, and migrate south in winter. They come to Japan in spring and autumn.

Habitat

Found alone in the tidal flats of Tokyo Port Wild Bird Park. It walked along the shore, caught crabs, and occasionally squealed loudly. I had little experience in identifying sandpipers, and I couldn't tell the species well when their legs were in the water. After a while, he walked away.