Where’s Wildlife · Bird Field Guide
Calidris melanotos
Pronounced (approx.): KAL-ih-dris mel-uh-NOH-tos
A sturdy sandpiper with a strongly streaked chest that meets a clean white belly along a distinct boundary. [1]
Select the main image to browse all 1 photographs.
NATIVE TO NORTH AMERICA
Look in wet grassy margins and shallow flooded fields during migration. Heads may emerge above vegetation before the whole bird is visible. [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.
Least Sandpipers are much smaller. Check the sharply bounded breast pattern and proportions rather than assuming all yellow-legged sandpipers are alike. [1]
Photographs © Brian Woolman / Where’s Wildlife. Select any image to open the gallery.
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Pectoral Sandpipers breed on Arctic tundra and migrate long distances. During stopovers they feed in muddy or grassy wetlands. Breeding males produce unusual low sounds during aerial courtship displays. [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.