Where’s Wildlife · Bird Field Guide
Calidris pusilla
Pronounced (approx.): KAL-ih-dris poo-SIL-uh
A small migrating shorebird with dark legs and a fairly short, stout bill. [1]
Select the main image to browse all 3 photographs.
NATIVE TO NORTH AMERICA
Search open muddy margins during migration. Mixed flocks provide useful size comparisons, but identify each bird separately. [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 warmer brown and usually yellow-legged. Western Sandpipers may have a longer, more drooping bill; difficult individuals deserve several views. [1]
Photographs © Brian Woolman / Where’s Wildlife. Select any image to open the gallery.
Showing 3 of 3 photographs.
These sandpipers breed in northern tundra and stop at productive wetlands along migration routes. They pick small prey from mud and shallow water, building energy reserves for the next flight. [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.