This species can be found in a variety of freshwater wetland habitats during migration and wintering, including the muddy edges of ponds, lakes, rivers, rice fields, sewage farms, and shallow marshes. They occasionally visit coastal mudflats but show a strong preference for inland, vegetated wetlands. During the breeding season, they inhabit bogs, marshes, and damp tundra areas in the northern taiga.

Look for a small, active bird probing the mud or shallow water with its fine-tipped bill. Its long toes are often visible, especially when walking on soft substrates or vegetation. In flight, the long toes extending beyond the tail are a key identification feature. It is generally less gregarious than other stints, often seen alone or in small, loose groups. Its call is a soft, short 'chirrip' or 'chick', sometimes described as a 'churr'.

Long-toed Stints are most active during daylight hours when foraging, but may also feed at night during migration or on wintering grounds. Their presence in different regions is highly seasonal: breeding in the Northern Hemisphere summer (May-July) in Siberia, and migrating south to Southeast Asia and Australasia for the Northern Hemisphere winter (September-April). Spring and autumn migration periods offer the best opportunities for spotting them in transit areas.