Wood Sandpiper
EN

Wood Sandpiper

Tringa glareola

UnknownLCEULCEU

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wood_sandpiper

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

Wood Sandpipers face severe population declines primarily due to wetland habitat loss across their extensive migratory range from Arctic breeding grounds to tropical wintering areas. Agricultural intensification and urban development have eliminated crucial stopover sites, while climate change is altering the timing of insect emergence that chicks depend upon for survival. Drainage of boreal wetlands for forestry and farming has reduced breeding habitat quality, compounding the species' vulnerability during an already challenging annual cycle.

Threat summary

Habitat

Wood Sandpipers breed in boreal and subarctic wetlands, favoring shallow pools, marshes, and wet meadows within forest clearings or tundra edges. During migration and winter, they utilize coastal mudflats, inland freshwater wetlands, rice paddies, and shallow lagoons across Africa, Asia, and Australia.

FRESHWATER· majorMARINE· majorTERRESTRIAL· major

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Wood Sandpiper classified as Endangered?
Wood Sandpiper is classified as Endangered — facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild — because population numbers are declining steeply and key habitats are under sustained pressure. Wood Sandpipers face severe population declines primarily due to wetland habitat loss across their extensive migratory range from Arctic breeding grounds to tropical wintering areas. Agricultural intensification and urban development have eliminated crucial stopover sites, while climate change is altering the timing of insect emergence that chicks depend upon for survival. Drainage of boreal wetlands for forestry and farming has reduced breeding habitat quality, compounding the species' vulnerability during an already challenging annual cycle.
Where does Wood Sandpiper live?
Wood Sandpiper occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Wood Sandpiper?
The main threats to Wood Sandpiper are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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