Identification
A dark wader with a long curved bill. Good light reveals chestnut and greenish iridescence that can disappear at a distance.
When to look
Northern breeding populations migrate and dispersal is widespread. Romanian feeding groups are seasonal and depend on current wetland conditions.
Where to look
Very shallow wetlands, marsh margins and flooded ground provide feeding habitat. Dense vegetation and shrubs can supply nesting cover.
Behaviour and ecology
Food and nutrition
It probes for aquatic invertebrates and other small animals in shallow water and soft ground.
Breeding and life cycle
It commonly nests in mixed waterbird colonies. Nesting habitat and feeding areas can be separate parts of the same wetland landscape.
A closer look
The glossy effect is a matter of lighting and feather structure, so a bird that looks black may reveal much richer colours when it turns.
Global conservation assessment
LC · Least Concern
Global category recorded from the linked assessment; it does not describe local abundance. Least Concern does not mean absence of threats.
View the source assessment ↗Observation and photography
Let the light and bird's natural movements work together. Do not move a flock or enter nesting vegetation to obtain brighter colours.
Sources and further reading
Keep a distance that allows birds to feed and rest normally. Do not enter colonies, approach nests, flush roosts or use playback for photographs. Never publish precise nest locations of sensitive species. Follow reserve rules and your guide's advice.