Terek Sandpiper
Xenus cinereus
IUCN status: Least concern
Flyway population 75 000 (2022 estimate)
Identification
Small-medium grey and white dumpy wader, that has an up-turned bill and bright orange legs..
Plumage
Non-breeding: The upperparts are grey, with some fine streaking of black on the mantle and scapulars. There is a white supercilium. The underparts are white though there is some fine grey streaks on the breast. The slightly upturned bill is black with an orange base. The legs are orange-yellow.
Breeding: Similar to the non-breeding plumage, but the streaks are more obvious on the scapulars giving the appearance of a black flash. The legs are bright orange or red.
Juvenile: Similar to the non-breeding adult plumage, but with heavier markings on the upperparts.
Confusing Species
Curlew Sandpiper: Can be confused with the Terek when in full non-breeding plumage because of the grey colouration, but the down curved bill is a diagnostic feature.
Red-necked Stint: Much smaller in size, but a mistake might arise in a large flock.
Grey-tailed Tattler: Both species are grey with pale underparts, and there can be confusion with the leg colour. However, once again the bill shape of the Terek is a distinctive feature. The barring on the breast is found only in the Tattler, and the black shoulder flash in the Terek. The legs are yellow.
Distribution
Breeds from north-east Europe to Siberia. Migrates to Africa, Southern Asia and Australia. Can be found on exposed sea-grass beds in estuaries and bays or on intertidal mudflats.
Monthly reports of Red-necked Stint in Queensland
Best sites in Queensland to see Terek Sandpiper
Yearly trends in Queensland
Population trends:
Number of shorebird areas used in the trend analysis: 10
Generation time: 4.5 years (Bird et al. 2020)
Percent change in abundance over three generations: -19.59 (95%CI: -77.44, 222.20)
Percent change in abundance between 1993 and 2021: 1.85 (95%CI: -70.03, 243.90)
Percent annual change in abundance between 1993 and 2021: 0.065 (95%CI: -4.21, 4.51)
Percent annual change in abundance between 1993 and 2012: 2.94 (95%CI: -4.67, 10.76)
Percent annual change in abundance between 2012 and 2021: -0.60 (95%CI: -14.37, 18.65)
Change in annual growth rate between 1993-2012 and 2012-2021: -0.035 (95%CI: -0.21, 0.16)
International and Nationally Important sites in Queensland
| Significant Bird Area | Year | Peak Count | International | National |
| Shoalwater | 2016 | 1149 | Yes | Yes |
| Burdekin River Delta | 2019 | 680 | Yes | Yes |
| Great Sandy Strait | 2016 | 629 | No | Yes |
| Central Qld Narrows | 2012 | 315 | No | Yes |
| Mapoon | 2017 | 218 | No | Yes |
| Mackay | 2023 | 200 | No | Yes |
| Gladstone | 2012 | 196 | No | Yes |
| Rodds Bay | 2012 | 195 | No | Yes |
| Pumicestone Passage | 2021 | 191 | No | Yes |
Conservation
EPBC listing: Vulnerable, Marine, Migratory
Approved conservation advice:
https://www.dcceew.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/consultation-document-xenus-cinereus.pdf
References
- BirdLife Australia (2023). Terek Sandpiper. [Text before updates sourced from: Marchant, S. et al (eds) 1990-2006 Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds.Volume 1 to 7.] Birdlife Australia. Birdlife Australia. Source: https://hanzab.birdlife.org.au/species/terek-sandpiper/ Accessed: April 30, 2026 Time Zone: +10:00
- Mlodinow, S. G., J. van Gils, P. Wiersma, and G. M. Kirwan (2024). Terek Sandpiper (Xenus cinereus), version 2.0. In Birds of the World (F. Medrano and P. N. Maleko, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.tersan.02
- eBird. 2021. eBird: An online database of bird distribution and abundance [web application]. eBird, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York. Available: http://www.ebird.org (Accessed: Date 12/4/2026)
- Rogers A, Fuller RA & Amano T (2023) Australia’s migratory shorebirds: Trends and prospects. Report to the National Environmental Science Program. University of Queensland, Brisbane.
- Geering, Andrew, Lindsay Agnew, and Sandra Harding, eds. Shorebirds of Australia. Csiro Publishing, 2007.
- Driessen, J., Kidd, L. R., Weller, D. R., Purnell, C., Maguire, G., Jaensch, R., and LeClair, S. M. (2025). Australian National Directory of Important Migratory Shorebird Habitat. Report for the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. BirdLife Australia, Melbourne.
- van Swinderen, L., Hansen, B.D., Fuller, R.A., Watkins, D., Rogers, D.I., Clemens, R.S., Newman, M., Woehler, E.J., Weller, D.R. and LeClair, S. (2025). Revision of the East Asian – Australasian Flyway Population Estimates for 37 listed Migratory Shorebird Species. Report for the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. BirdLife Australia, Melbourne.
- https://sproggies63.github.io/birding_apps/