A sandpiper that breeds on Arctic tundra and migrates south, mostly to South America. Its stippled breast ends sharply at a white belly.
Fine dark spots cover its breast, ending in a clear boundary with the white belly.
It probes wetland mud for insects and other small invertebrates. On the breeding grounds, males inflate an air sac beneath the breast during display flights and make low calls.
The female chooses a raised tundra site, shapes the hollow with feet and breast and lines it with grasses, moss and leaves. She incubates and tends the active, downy chicks; most males have migrated away by hatching.
It forages slowly among wetland vegetation, using sight and touch. Breeding birds eat many insects, including cranefly, midge and beetle larvae, plus spiders, algae and seeds. Small crustaceans such as amphipods are also taken.
It has yellowish legs, brown, gold and black upperparts, and a fairly thick-based bill. Juveniles have rusty-edged feathers above. Males are considerably larger than females.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.