Field Identification

The Spoon-billed Sandpiper is a small wader measuring 14–16 cm in length, with a wingspan of 32–38 cm. Males typically weigh around 29.5 grams, while females can weigh up to 34 grams. This species is distinct due to its unusual spatulate bill, which is a key diagnostic feature. During the breeding season, adults have a striking appearance with a red-brown head, neck, and breast, which are patterned with dark brown streaks. The upperparts are blackish, accented by buff and pale rufous fringes.

In non-breeding plumage, the adult lacks the reddish tones, showing instead pale brownish-gray upperparts with whitish fringes on the wing coverts. The supercilium and underparts are white. Juveniles are similarly distinctive, with blackish upperparts fringed with white and buff, paler wing coverts, and a buff-tinted breast. Their crown and broad eyestripe are brown, while the supercilium remains white (2 Rasmussen, P. C., and J. C. Anderton (2012). Birds of South Asia: the Ripley Guide. Volumes 1 and 2. 2nd edition. National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA. Close , 3 Grimmett, R., C. Inskipp, and T. Inskipp. (2016). Birds of the Indian Subcontinent: India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan. Bangladesh and the Maldives. Bloomsbury Publishing, London, UK. Close ).

The Spoon-billed Sandpiper closely resembles other small Calidris species, particularly the Red-necked Stint (Calidris ruficollis) and Sanderling (Calidris alba) in field conditions. However, its spatulate bill is the most notable difference, making it easily distinguishable from Red-necked Stint and other stints. While the Red-necked Stint also displays rufous coloration during the breeding season, its bill is shorter and more pointed. Structurally, the Spoon-billed Sandpiper is larger-headed, longer-winged, and longer-legged than the Red-necked Stint (4 O'Brien, M., R. Crossley, and K. Karlson (2006). The Shorebird Guide. Houghton Mifflin, New York, New York, USA. Close ).

Juveniles of both species can appear similar, but the distinctive bill shape of the Spoon-billed Sandpiper helps in identification. Misidentifications in the field can occur when mud sticks to the tip of the bill of Red-necked Stint or Little Stint (Calidris minuta) or Sanderling, causing them to be mistakenly identified as Spoon-billed Sandpiper.