Breeds on wet moorland mainly in Scandinavia and Russia; migrants occur in wide variety of wetland habitats across Africa and southern Asia. Found mainly as singles or small groups, locally in flocks. Often keeps apart from other shorebirds, feeding quietly at marshy and muddy edges in or adjacent to cover. Note very small size, rather plain plumage (limited bright marks on back of breeding adults), greenish-yellow legs. In flight, sides of tail flash bright white, unlike grayish of Little Stint.