The spoon-billed sandpiper, nicknamed "little spoon" due to its unique spoon-shaped beak, is a small bird measuring 14-16 centimeters in length. Its plumage changes dramatically between seasons. In summer, its feathers are predominantly dark, with shades of black and brownish-red, while in winter it sports a more subdued palette of grayish-brown and white. However, you can still easily recognize the bird in the wild by its distinctive feeding behavior – sweeping its beak from side to side in the water or mud to collect food.

Unfortunately, the spoon-billed sandpiper is critically endangered, with a global population of fewer than 1,000. During breeding season, these birds inhabit tundra marshes, grasslands and lakes on the Arctic shore. In non-breeding seasons, they prefer the shallows and mudflats of coastal and estuarine areas.

Every year, from July to August, the spoon-billed sandpiper undertakes a long migration to the Yellow Sea coastal wetland in Yancheng City, east China's Jiangsu Province. This area is a crucial stopover point on the East Asia-Australasia Flyway, a migratory route known for its high concentration of endangered bird species. 

The wetland serves as a vital "rest stop" and "fueling station" for the spoon-billed sandpiper during its long journey. After spending two to three months in the Yancheng wetland, where they molt and gain weight, the birds continue their migration to their southern wintering grounds.

(Cover image designed by CGTN's Liu Shaozhen)