Calidris subminuta (Middendorff, 1853)

Taxonomic Identity

The long-toed stint (Calidris subminuta) is a very small wader.

Size Measurements

It measures 13 to 16 cm (5.1 to 6.3 in) in length, has a wingspan of 26.5 to 30.5 cm (10.4 to 12.0 in), and weighs approximately 25 g (0.9 oz).

General Body Morphology

It has a small head, a short, straight, sharp-tipped beak, a slender neck, a rounded belly, and long legs set well back.

Toe and Feather Morphology

Its toes are long and slender, particularly the middle toe. The primary feathers extend all the way to the tail.

Head and Upperpart Coloration

The crown is brown, with a pale streak just above the eye. The upper parts are brown, with darker brown feather centers.

Breast and Underpart Coloration

The breast is speckled with pale brown, and the underparts are white.

Limb and Beak Coloration

The legs and feet are yellow, and the beak is dark brown except for the base of the lower mandible, which is yellow or pale brown.

Distinguishing Species Traits

This species has a distinctive stance, and its flight call sets it apart from other sandpipers.

Similar Species Comparison

When on the ground, it can be confused with the red-necked stint (Calidris ruficollis), but the long-toed stint is more finely built and slightly smaller.

Breeding Season and Range

The long-toed stint breeds in Siberia during the Northern Hemisphere summer. Little is known about its breeding habits, but its breeding range includes the Chukchi Peninsula, the Koryak Plateau, the Commander Islands, the Kuril Islands, land bordering the Sea of Okhotsk, northern Verkhoyansky District, and the areas around the Ob River and the Irtysh River.

Post-Breeding Migration Routes

After breeding, it migrates southward, passing through China, Indochina, Malaysia, and the Philippines, and westward to Burma, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and the Maldive Islands.

Winter and Vagrant Range

It is a Northern Hemisphere winter visitor to New Guinea and Australia, and a vagrant to Great Britain, Sweden, South Africa, Melanesia, Hawaii, the northwestern United States, and the vicinity of the Bering Sea.

Overwintering Habitat

In its overwintering range, it uses a variety of wetland habitats, including shallow freshwater or brackish areas, lakes, swamps, floodplains, marshes, lagoons, muddy shores, and sewage ponds.