Least Sandpiper

Least Sandpiper, adult, breeding plumage

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Least Sandpiper, adult, nonbreeding plumage

Least Sandpiper, juvenile

Least Sandpiper, juvenile (Juvenal plumage); Jamaica Bay, NY; August

Least Sandpiper, breeding adult (Def. Alternate plumage); Long Is., NY, May

Least Sandpiper, breeding adult (Def. Alternate plumage); Long Is., NY; September

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1. Description
2. Sound
3. Conservation Status
4. Other Names
5. Cool Facts
6. Full detailed species account

A common small shorebird, the Least Sandpiper can be found in migration all across North America. It can be readily identified by its small size and yellow legs.

Description

Small sandpiper. Short neck. Moderately long bill, may droop slightly at tip. Moderately long legs. Black center of rump and tail. Legs yellowish. Back reddish with black spots. Two thin white lines down back. Chest usually only well marked with rather distinct chest band.

• Size: 13-15 cm (5-6 in)
• Wingspan: 27-28 cm (11-11 in)
• Weight: 19-30 g (0.67-1.06 ounces)

Sex Differences

Sexes look alike.

Sound

Call a short "creep," or "cree,et."

Conservation Status

Common. Populations appear stable.

Other Names

Bécasseau minuscule (French)
Correlimos menudo, Minutilla blanca, Playero (Spanish)

Cool Facts

• The Least Sandpiper is the smallest shorebird in the world.

• Although it is a relatively numerous shorebird, the Least Sandpiper tends to occur in flocks of dozens or hundreds, rather than thousands like some other sandpipers. It also tends to forage at the upper edge of mudflats or along drier margins of inland ponds than other related small sandpipers.

Sources used to construct this page:

Cooper, J. M. 1994. Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla). In The Birds of North America, No. 115 (A. Poole and F. Gill, Eds.). Philadelphia: The Academy of Natural Sciences; Washington, D.C.: The American Ornithologists? Union.