Green sandpiper Tringa ochropus

Features

The green sandpiper's wingspan is between 41 and 46 cm. The green sandpiper avoids big company. Even at the time of migration, there are only exceptionally more than 30 specimens gathered in the flock. It is active during the day and is a very cautious and timid bird.

Species	Bird
Living space	Lake, Rivers, Streams, Swamp
Size	21 - 24 cm
Weight	71 g

Description

The green sandpiper is characterized by contrasting colours – the back of its body and the wings are extremely dark, and the abdominal side is wholly white. Its blackish-brown wings and back are covered with small whitish dots. It has a greyish-brown head, while the neck and the throat are coloured with a pattern of dirty-white dashes. It has a black line with a white one above it, running from the base of its straight beak to the eye. Its completely black eyes have white trimmings. The legs are greenish. In flight, the green sandpiper can be distinguished by the black colour of its wide wings and the white abdominal parts with a snow-white tail. The whiteness of the short tail is interrupted by three blackish semi-circular transversal lines, one of which is blurry and the other two more prominent. Outside the nesting period, it keeps to various types of inland waters. It can be observed in wetlands, lakes, flooded meadows, water ditches, on river banks and along the streams. It looks for small invertebrates and fish. It winters in southern Europe and the tropical regions of Africa and Asia. It is a regular winter guest in this region, although it rarely nests in Slovenia.