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Temminck's Stint | Calidris temminckii

The Temminck's Stint is a Southern African bird that belongs to the Scolopacidae bird family group which includes birds such as Snipes, Godwits, Curlews, Whimbrels, Shanks, Stints, Sandpipers, Ruff, Turnstones, Phalaropes.

The description for the Temminck's Stint (Latin name Calidris temminckii) can be found in the 7th Edition of the Roberts Birds of Southern Africa. The Calidris temminckii can be quickly identified by its unique Roberts identification number of 280 and the detailed description of this bird is on page 368. You will find a picture of the Temminck's Stint on page 369.

NOTE: The reference for the information following is "Roberts Birds of Southern Africa", 7th Edition*. This edition contained a number of taxonomic changes as well as changes to English names used traditionally and in earlier editions of most bird books in South Africa. The following paragraph notes such changes if any.

There have been no changes in the common name between the Roberts 6th and Roberts 7th Edition. There have been no changes in the Latin name for the Temminck's Stint between the Roberts 6th and Roberts 7th Edition

The Temminck's Stint has a height of 14 cms and weighs around 20 gms. The head is coloured grey, brown while the bill is coloured black. The Calidris temminckii has a white, brown coloured throat, green legs and a brown coloured back. The eyes are brown.

Take note of the main distinguishing features such as colour, size and leg length relative to the body size. Colours of body parts can be helpful. Be aware what may appear brown to one person is described in Roberts using some other word ... for example brown, black. See colours used in Roberts.

Head is grey, brown

Eyes are brown

Bill is black

Legs are green

Throat is white, brown

Back is brown

Feeding Habits ...

This bird forages for food on the ground

This bird has a specially adapted bill which helps it hunt for fish, crabs, shrimp and other aquatic animals in the water.

This bird eats insects such as butterflies, bees, wasps, locusts and ants. These invertebrates are usually hawked aerially, killed and then eaten .

Breeding, Habitat and Nesting Habits ...

The Temminck's Stint is found in the Southern African wetlands, riverine forests and moist grasslands.

The bird is at home in riverine forests and close to water bodies such as lakes, dams and streams

You can see the Temminck's Stint bird on coastal regions and on the sea shore where the bird will be foraging with other birds

Seen in Flocks, Singles or Pairs Normally ...

The Temminck's Stint is mainly seen singly or in pairs in the wild.

The reference for the information following is "Roberts Birds of Southern Africa", 7th Edition * edited by PAR Hockey, WRJ Dean and PG Ryan, published by "The Trustees of the John Voelcker Bird Book Fund."