Where’s Wildlife · Bird Field Guide
Calidris minutilla
Pronounced (approx.): KAL-ih-dris my-NOO-til-uh
A tiny, warm-brown shorebird that often feeds with a crouched posture at muddy wetland edges. [1]
Select the main image to browse all 3 photographs.
NATIVE TO NORTH AMERICA
Scan the muddier margins rather than only open water. These very small birds blend into wet soil and short plants. [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.
Semipalmated Sandpipers typically have dark legs and stouter bills. Mud can hide leg color, so also compare body size and bill shape. [1]
Photographs © Brian Woolman / Where’s Wildlife. Select any image to open the gallery.
Showing 3 of 3 photographs.
Least Sandpipers pick and probe for small prey around wet edges. They breed in northern regions and are more often encountered elsewhere during migration. The chicks feed themselves, though an adult stays with them. [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.