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Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Spotted at Najafgarh Jheel [Prelims Bits]

02 Sep 2026

Tags: Prelims   General issues on Environment

Source: The Indian Express

  • Context:Sharp-tailed sandpiper (Calidris acuminata), a rare Siberian migrant, was spotted at Najafgarh Jheel, Delhi-NCR—only the 5th recorded sighting in India in ~150 years.
  • Identification: White supercilium (eyebrow stripe), rufous-streaked crown and rusty-brown scalloped plumage; resembles the pectoral sandpiper.
  • Range: Breeds in northern Siberia (Lena Delta–Kolyma); migrates south across East Asia to mainly Australia and New Zealand; smaller numbers reach Melanesia.
  • India: Extremely rare because its normal southward route does not pass through Kashmir.
  • Habitat & diet: Uses coastal/inland wetlands, freshwater and hypersaline habitats, shallow wetland edges and agricultural areas; feeds on seeds, worms, molluscs, crustaceans and insects.
  • Migration:Yellow Sea region (China–Korean Peninsula) is an important stopover; Najafgarh lies along the broader Central Asian Flyway.
  • Conservation: IUCN Red List – Vulnerable; population estimated to have declined by about 45% over three generations (~15 years). Major threats include wetland/habitat loss, pollution, altered sediment flows, sea-level rise, drought and shrinking inland wetlands.
  • Prelims Edge: Najafgarh Jheel is an important wetland in the Delhi-NCR region, supporting migratory waders, especially during the August–September and March migration periods.

Prelims Question

Q1. With reference to the Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, consider the following statements:

  1. Its breeding grounds lie predominantly in the northern parts of Eurasia, while its principal wintering range is in the Southern Hemisphere.
  2. The Yellow Sea region is significant to the species because it serves as a stopover during migration.
  3. Its occurrence in India is common because the Central Asian Flyway directly overlaps its principal migration route.
  4. The species can utilise both freshwater and saline wetland habitats.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

A. 1, 2 and 4 only
B. 1 and 3 only
C. 2, 3 and 4 only
D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Answer: A

Explanation: The species breeds in northern Siberia and migrates mainly towards Australia and New Zealand. The Yellow Sea region is an important stopover. It can use both freshwater and hypersaline habitats. Its presence in India is exceptionally rare, so statement 3 is incorrect.

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