Birds diurnal

Temminck's Stint

Calidris temminckii

A master of camouflage, the Temminck's Stint is a tiny, mouse-like wader that favors muddy shorelines and freshwater marshes. Discover how to spot this elusive traveler as it journeys between Arctic tundras and tropical wetlands.

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Quick Identification

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Size

Length: 13.5-15 cm (5.3-5.9 in); Wingspan: 34-37 cm (13-14.5 in); Weight: 15-36 g (0.5-1.3 oz)

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Colors

Plain grayish-brown upperparts, white underparts, and distinctive greenish-yellow or dull olive legs. When flying, it shows white outer tail feathers.

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Key Features

Greenish or yellowish legs (never black)
White outer tail feathers visible in flight
Crouched, mouse-like walking posture
Short, straight black bill
Uniformly drab, unstreaked brownish-gray appearance in winter

When You’ll See Them

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Activity pattern diurnal

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Peak hours 7-11 AM, 3-6 PM

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Season May-June and August-September

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Diet Primarily feeds on small insects and their larvae, as well as tiny mollusks, worms, and crustaceans found on or just below the surface of wet mud.

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Habitat Prefers freshwater environments like marshes, muddy lake edges, riverbanks, and flooded fields; avoids open coastal beaches in favor of areas with some low vegetation.

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Behavior

Temminck's Stints are often described as "mouse-like" because of the way they scurry across muddy banks with a distinctive hunched posture. Unlike many other waders that are highly social and form massive flocks, these birds are frequently seen alone or in very small, loose groups. They have a nervous but systematic foraging style, picking delicately at the mud surface rather than probing deeply like larger shorebirds.

During the breeding season, they exhibit a fascinating "double-clutching" mating system where females may lay two separate clutches of eggs for different males to incubate. When they feel threatened, they tend to crouch low and freeze, relying on their cryptic, earthy plumage to blend into the shoreline. If flushed, they take off with a characteristic towering, zigzagging flight while emitting a trilling call.

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Camera Tips

To successfully capture the Temminck's Stint on a trail camera, you must focus on the "micro-habitat" of the shoreline. These birds are incredibly small—roughly the size of a sparrow—so your camera needs to be mounted as low as possible. A ground-level setup, perhaps using a spike mount or a flat rock, just 4 to 6 inches above the mud line is ideal. Position the camera to face a patch of moist mud that is adjacent to some low-growing vegetation, as they prefer these "sheltered" edges over wide-open flats.

Because of their erratic, scurrying movement, motion triggers can sometimes be too slow. If your camera supports it, use a high-frequency time-lapse mode (one photo every 15–30 seconds) during the peak morning hours. If you rely on PIR triggers, set the sensitivity to "High" and ensure the camera is close to the target area—no more than 3 to 5 feet away. Use a fast shutter speed setting to avoid motion blur, as their "mouse-run" behavior is quite rapid.

Natural lighting is your friend here; the golden hours of early morning provide the best contrast to distinguish their greenish legs from the surrounding mud. Look for "micro-signs" to choose your spot, such as tiny needle-point footprints or small pecking holes in the soft silt. Avoid areas with tall reeds that might wave in the wind and cause false triggers, but look for "islands" of mud surrounded by shallow water, which are favorite resting and feeding spots for this species during migration.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Temminck's Stint.

Little Stint

Has dark black legs and a more contrasting, 'prettier' plumage with reddish tones in summer, unlike the drabber Temminck's.

Common Sandpiper

Noticeably larger bird that constantly bobs its tail up and down, a behavior the Temminck's Stint lacks.

Least Sandpiper

The North American counterpart; also has yellow legs but usually shows more distinct, darker feather centers on its back.

Frequently Asked Questions

They are primarily diurnal, meaning they are active during daylight. You will find them most busy foraging during the early morning and late afternoon hours when insect activity on the mud is at its peak.

Temminck's Stints are rarely seen in traditional backyards unless you have a large property with a natural wetland or pond. The best way to support them is to maintain healthy, pesticide-free muddy margins around freshwater sources.

Their diet is almost entirely protein-based, consisting of small invertebrates like fly larvae, beetles, tiny snails, and crustaceans plucked from the surface of wet mud.

They are quite rare in suburban settings, usually only appearing during migration at specific sites like sewage treatment works, reservoir edges, or flooded parklands.

The easiest way is to look at the legs: Temminck's has greenish or yellowish legs, while the Little Stint has black legs. Additionally, Temminck's has white outer tail feathers and a more uniform, brownish-gray back.

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