Terek Sandpiper

Terek Sandpiper is a small migratory Palearctic wader and the only member of its genus, named for the Terek River flowing into the Caspian Sea, where it was first observed. It is slightly larger than the common sandpiper at 22 to 25 cm, and its long, upcurved bill makes it very distinctive. Notable features include no subspecies (Wikipedia, general species account). It is more closely related to the shanks, tattlers and phalaropes than to the typical Calidris sandpipers (Wikipedia, general species account). (Wikipedia, general species account).

Given the numerous basal fossils of the group found in Eurasia it is likely that the Terek sandpiper lineage originated there, possibly by being isolated as the remains of the Turgai Sea dried up, which happened just around this time. It is a rare vagrant in western Europe, and particularly in autumn it is sometimes seen passing through the Marianas on migration. on Palau, further off its usual migration route, it is decidedly uncommon on the other hand. (Wikipedia, general species account).