Gray-tailed Tattler illustration
Birdsong field guide

Gray-tailed Tattler

Tringa brevipes

The Gray-tailed Tattler is a medium-sized, sleek shorebird known for its uniform gray plumage, yellow legs, and characteristic tail-bobbing behavior. It is a long-distance migrant that navigates the East Asian-Australasian Flyway.

What it sounds like

A sharp, upslurred, two-syllable whistle described as 'too-weet' or 'up-weep'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard
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Rec. 雪鼬 · ChinaCC BY-NC-SAXeno-canto

Field notes

  • It is nearly identical to the Wandering Tattler but can be distinguished by its shorter nasal groove and distinct two-syllable flight call.
  • During the breeding season, it develops fine horizontal gray barring across its breast and flanks.
  • It is known for 'teetering,' a constant upward and downward bobbing of the tail and hindquarters while foraging.
  • Unlike many other sandpipers, it frequently perches on solid objects such as rocks, mangrove roots, and even jetties.
  • The species performs incredible non-stop migratory flights between its Siberian breeding grounds and Australasian wintering sites.
Habitat
Rocky coasts, coral reefs, mangroves, and mudflats; breeds along stony riverbeds in subarctic tundra.
Range
Breeds in Northeast Siberia; winters in Southeast Asia, Australia, and New Zealand.

Similar & commonly confused birds

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