Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos) **

The Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos) is a small, slender wader bird widely distributed across Europe, Asia, and Africa. It is easily recognized by its brown upper parts, white underparts, and a characteristic white crescent shape that curves up onto its shoulder. The bird exhibits a distinctive bobbing motion, known as "teetering," when it walks along shorelines, riverbanks, and wetlands where it typically feeds. This species is highly migratory, breeding in temperate regions and wintering in tropical and subtropical areas, including the UAE. The Common Sandpiper is known for its sharp "twit-twit" call and swift, low flight, often skimming just above the water's surface. During migration, it can be seen in a variety of habitats, ranging from coastal mudflats to inland lakes and rivers.