Good evening, everyone! Let me introduce you to the modest yet beautiful Common Sandpiper!
The Common Sandpiper is a small bird, about 20cm in length, adorned with grey-brown and white feathers. The contrast between the white and grey-brown is a key to identifying them. Also, the white wing bars visible during flight are beautiful, and the characteristic bobbing of their tail feathers with each step when standing or walking is adorable.
They often spend their time alone (a lone wolf, or should I say, a lone bird?) quietly by riversides, lakes, and sometimes along the ridges of rice paddies. They walk along the water at their own pace, catching insects and small fish to satisfy their hunger. However, the Common Sandpiper also has a very sociable side. During migration, they form small groups with their peers and travel together. In Japan, they become resident birds especially from Kyushu northward, allowing you to enjoy their presence all year round.
While they are commonly associated with shores, they can actually be seen near any waterside, such as ponds or rivers. Therefore, the Common Sandpiper can be considered a bird that can be observed in nature close to us, not just by the sea.
Moreover, their call sounds like “pee-wee” or “pyu-pyu-pyu,” which adds an indescribable melancholy during the twilight hours. Even the monk Saigyō was moved by their call and left a poem in the “Shin Kokin Wakashū.” They have been deeply involved in our culture since ancient times. An encounter with the Common Sandpiper is sure to bring a little surprise and discovery to your daily life. See you next time.
