Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos) are familiar birds that are often seen running near the water's edge on beaches and tidal mud flats. The common sandpiper has a brown upper body and a white underside. When at rest its wingtips reach halfway back to its tail. The bird is a European and Asian species, but is closely related to the similar-looking spotted sandpiper of the Americas.
Common sandpipers are small to medium sized birds, but they have relatively long legs that they put to good use. When seen running in groups the birds appear to display a remarkable coordination of movement. Sandpipers are ground feeders that dine on crustaceans, insects, worms, and other coastal creatures. They retrieve them by meticulously pecking and probing with their short bills.
In flight, common sandpipers have a stiff-winged style and typically stay close to the water or ground. When airborne they tend to be vocal animals. They sound off with a distinctive three-note, piping-like cry—often represented as “twee-wee-wee.”
The common sandpiper forages by sight on the ground or in shallow water, picking up small food items such as insects, Crustaceans and other Invertebrates; it may even catch insects in flight.
The Common Sandpiper breeds in Europe and Asia within the period April to August. Approximately four eggs are laid, though three to five eggs per clutch can occur. The nest is usually close to water, though not always on flat ground or the slope of banks, concealed by vegetation or overhangs. Occasionally nests are on more open, bare ground or on artificial ledges. Incubation takes approximately 21–22 days, and chicks fledge in 26–28 days.
A common visitor to Maldives. The Common sanpiper (Actitis Hypoleucos) is not threatened. All the migratory birds are protected in Maldives by law.