Where’s Wildlife · Bird Field Guide
Calidris alpina
Pronounced (approx.): KAL-ih-dris AL-pih-nuh
A sandpiper with a long drooping bill and, in breeding plumage, a distinctive black belly patch. [1]
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NATIVE TO NORTH AMERICA
Search shallow shorelines and mudflats, checking both feeding flocks and resting birds. A side view is especially helpful for bill shape. [1]
Use the range map for seasonal context and the observation map to explore reported sightings near you.
Listen for rhythm and tone, then compare what you hear with the bird’s appearance and habitat.
Small peep sandpipers have shorter bills. Nonbreeding Dunlin can look plain, so combine bill curve, body size, and leg color. [1]
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Dunlin breed on northern tundra and use shorelines farther south outside the breeding season. They pick and probe for small animals near the mud surface rather than plunging the entire long bill deeply every time. [2]
Explore reported observations and photographs on iNaturalist. Zoom to your area and use date filters to investigate seasonal sightings.
Reported sightings are not a complete range map. A lack of records does not necessarily mean the species is absent.
Choose a photograph and name three clues you can see. Compare another view to learn how angle, age, season, and lighting change the bird’s appearance.