[3] Broad-billed sandpipers are small waders, slightly smaller than the dunlin, but with a longer straighter bill, and shorter legs.

The breeding adult has patterned dark grey upperparts and white underparts with blackish markings on the breast.

Juveniles have backs, similar to young dunlin, but the white flanks and belly and brown-streaked breast are distinctive.

The broad-billed sandpiper is strongly migratory, spending the non-breeding season from easternmost Africa, through south and south-east Asia to Australasia.

Despite its European breeding range, this species is rare on passage in western Europe, presumably because of the south-easterly migration route.