Australia
SpeciesField NotesLog inDownload

Field notes

Stay in the loop

Get updates, new features, and Australian birding news.

By subscribing, I agree to receive BirdUp Australia updates, new features, and Australian birding news.

Australia
Download for iOSDownload for AndroidSpeciesField NotesRSSNewsletterBrandPrivacyTerms

BirdUp Australia Pty Ltd © 2026. Made in Australia for Australian birders.

  1. Species
  2. ›
  3. Scolopacidae
  4. ›
  5. Xenus
  6. ›
  7. Terek Sandpiper
Terek Sandpiper
Photo · (c) Lachlan Copeland, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)

BirdUp · Species

Terek Sandpiper

Xenus cinereus(Güldenstädt, 1775)

Updated 21 March 2026

Conservation status: Least ConcernOrigin: Native
Order
CHARADRIIFORMES
Family
Scolopacidae
Genus
Xenus

At a glance

The Terek Sandpiper is a medium-sized bird, about 22–24 cm long, listed as Least Concern and native to Australia. It can be seen year-round.

Size
22–24 cm
Conservation status
Least Concern
Origin
Native
Best seen
Year-round
Commonness
Very common
  • Identification
  • Where
  • When
  • Behaviour
  • Gallery

01 · Identification

How to tell it apart

What does a Terek Sandpiper look like?

The Terek Sandpiper is a medium-sized bird, about 22–24 cm long and weighing 45–126 g.

The Terek sandpiper is a small migratory Palearctic wader species and is the only member of the genus Xenus. It is named after the Terek River which flows into the west of the Caspian Sea, as it was first observed around this area.

Description · wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Field specs

Length
22–24 cm
Weight
45–126 g
Wingspan
57 cm

Measurements · avonet · CC BY 4.0

03 · When

When to look

When can you see a Terek Sandpiper?

The Terek Sandpiper is present across its Australian range year-round, so it can be seen in any month.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

05 · Behaviour

Habits and haunts

What does a Terek Sandpiper eat?

The Terek Sandpiper feeds on terrestrial invertebrates and intertidal invertebrates, usually foraging in flocks or alone.

06 · Gallery

Plumage up close

3 photos

The BirdUp app

Log your next Terek Sandpiper in the field

A pocket field journal for 850+ Australian birds. Offline-first, smart ID, and a lifelist that travels with you.

Get the appRead field notes
Spotted something wrong on this page? Report incorrect info

02 · Where

Where to find it

Where does the Terek Sandpiper live in Australia?

The Terek Sandpiper is native to Australia, recorded across 38 of Australia’s bioregions.

BreedingLow Arctic to temperate tundra and taiga floodplains of north-central Palearctic: Finland and Ukraine east through Russia to east-central Chukotskiy Pen., north Kamchatka and south to west Amurland (east Russia)

Non-breedingAF, OR, AU, also Middle East : tropical to subtropical coastal mudflats, estuaries of Paleotropics:, south and east Africa, Malagasy region, Middle East, south and south-east Asia, Indonesian Arch., New Guinea, Australia (mainly north-west, north, north-east), Philippines, south-east China and Taiwan; rarer to Bismarck Arch., Solomon Is., New Caledonia and New Zealand

Distribution from BirdUp Australia community data

Legend

  • Breeding
  • Resident
  • Non-breeding

7 regions recorded