Terek Sandpiper - profile

Indicative distribution

Loading map...

Key:

known

predicted

The areas shown in pink and/purple are the sub-regions where the species or community is known or predicted to occur. They may not occur thoughout the sub-region but may be restricted to certain areas. ( click here to see geographic restrictions). The information presented in this map is only indicative and may contain errors and omissions.

Scientific name: Xenus cinereus

Conservation status in NSW: Vulnerable

Commonwealth status: Vulnerable

Profile last updated: 25 Feb 2024

Description

The Terek Sandpiper is a medium-sized wader. Individuals are greyish-brown above and white below, with some white on the outer tail feathers and a noticeable white bar on the tips of the secondaries. The species may be distinguished from other waders by its long, slender, upturned black bill, which is dull orange at the base, and by its orange legs and feet.

Distribution

A rare migrant to the eastern and southern Australian coasts, being most common in northern Australia, and extending its distribution south to the NSW coast in the east. The two main sites for the species in NSW are the Richmond River estuary and the Hunter River estuary. The latter has been identified as nationally and internationally important for the species.

Habitat and ecology

In Australia, has been recorded on coastal mudflats, lagoons, creeks and estuaries.
Favours mudbanks and sandbanks located near mangroves, but may also be observed on rocky pools and reefs, and occasionally up to 10 km inland around brackish pools.
Generally roosts communally amongst mangroves or dead trees, often with related wader species.
Breaks up into smaller flocks or even solitary birds when feeding in open intertidal mudflats.
The diet includes worms, crabs and other crustaceans, small shellfish and the adults and larvae of various flies, beetles and water-bugs.
Feeding is undertaken by moving rapidly and erratically over soft, wet mud, pecking or probing at the surface.

Regional distribution and habitat

Click on a region below to view detailed distribution, habitat and vegetation information.

Threats

Human disturbance at roosting and foraging sites (e.g. walking, fishing, pets, boating).
Mangrove incursion into saltmarsh habitat.
Habitat loss due to development.
Weed invasion of key habitat.
Hydrological changes to estuaries and similar waterbodies may modify or remove important areas of suitable habitat.
Industrial development e.g. major port expansions and other transport related developments.
Groundwater pollution impacting foraging habitat and resources.
Habitat loss from erosion, climate change inundation and sea-level rise.

Recovery strategies

A targeted strategy for managing this species has been developed under the Saving Our Species program; click here for details. For more information on the Saving Our Species program click here

Activities to assist this species

Raise visitor awareness about the presence of this and other threatened shorebird species and provide information on how their actions will affect its survival.
Manage estuaries and the surrounding landscape to ensure the natural hydrological regimes are maintained.
Protect and maintain known or potential habitats, including the implementation of protection zones around known habitat sites and recent records.
Survey potential habitat to locate any new populations.

Information sources

Hayman, P., Marchant, J. and Prater, T. (1986) Shorebirds. Helm Identification Guides. (Christopher Helm, London)
Higgins, P. and Davies, S. (eds.) (1996) Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds Volume 3: Snipe to Pigeons. (Oxford University Press, Melbourne)
NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (2002) Threatened Species Information. E Terek Sandpiper. NPWS, Sydney.
Pringle, J.D. (1987) The Shorebirds of Australia. (Angus and Robertson, Sydney)
Smith, P. (1991) The Biology and Management of Waders in NSW. Species Management Report Number 9. (NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Hurstville)

IBRA Bioregion	IBRA Subregion	Known or predicted	Geographic restrictions region

NSW North Coast	Coffs Coast and Escarpment	Predicted	Tidal influenced water bodies within 15 km of coast
NSW North Coast	Karuah Manning	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Macleay Hastings	Known	Tidal influenced water bodies within 15 km of coast
NSW North Coast	Yuraygir	Known	Tidal influenced water bodies within 15 km of coast
Ocean	Batemans Shelf	Known	None
Ocean	Hawkesbury Shelf	Known	None
Ocean	Manning Shelf	Predicted	None
Ocean	South Pacific Ocean	Predicted	None
Ocean	Tweed-Moreton	Known	None
Ocean	Twofold Shelf	Predicted	None
Ocean - Other State	Northern Australian Coastal Waters	Known	None
Ocean - Other State	Southern Australian Coastal Waters	Known	None
Other State	QLD	Known	None
Other State	SA	Known	None
Other State	VIC	Known	None
South East Corner	Bateman	Known	None
South Eastern Queensland	Burringbar-Conondale Ranges	Known	Tidal influenced water bodies within 15 km of coast
South Eastern Queensland	Clarence Lowlands	Known	Tidal influenced water bodies within 15 km of coast
South Eastern Queensland	Scenic Rim	Predicted	Tidal influenced water bodies within 15 km of coast
South Eastern Queensland	Sunshine Coast-Gold Coast Lowlands	Known	Tidal influenced water bodies within 15 km of coast
Sydney Basin	Hunter	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Illawarra	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Jervis	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Pittwater	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Wyong	Known	None