- Lifespan
- 20–30 years in the wild
- Size & Weight
- 37–47 cm, wingspan 71–83 cm; 270–420 g
- Habitat
- Breeds on upland moorland, tundra, and boggy areas; winters on coastal mudflats, estuaries, and sandy shores.
- UK Distribution
- Summer breeder in small numbers across Scottish Highlands and northern England; common passage migrant and winter visitor to UK coasts from July to May.
- Diet
- Probes soft ground and mud for invertebrates, particularly worms, crustaceans, and insects; also eats some berries and plant material.
- Prey
- Earthworms, lugworms, amphipods, insect larvae, spiders
- Predators
- Peregrines, merlins, and golden eagles; occasionally taken by larger gulls and corvids at rest sites.
- Mating Season
- April to July
- Breeding
- Clutch of 4 eggs, incubation period 27–29 days, single brood per season; chicks fledge at 35–40 days.
- Behaviour
- Highly migratory with distinct populations moving between Arctic breeding grounds and African wintering areas. Often seen in small flocks during migration and winter, calling frequently with distinctive whistling notes. Males perform aerial display flights during breeding season.