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    Western Sandpiper Identification

    Western Sandpiper Breeding adult
    Breeding adult

    Small, portly sandpiper with black legs and a black slightly drooping bill. Breeding birds have a rusty cap and rusty mottling on the back.

    © Thomas Barbin | Macaulay LibraryBritish Columbia, May 09, 2017
    Western Sandpiper Nonbreeding adult
    Nonbreeding adult

    Small, rather chunky shorebird. The bill is long and slightly drooping, although bill length and shape is quite variable among individuals and is not diagnostic on its own. Nonbreeding birds have little streaking on the breast.

    © Patrick Maurice | Macaulay LibraryFlorida, November 06, 2016
    Western Sandpiper Breeding adult
    Breeding adult

    Tiny shorebird; feeds on aquatic invertebrates usually at the water's edge or in shallow standing water. Appears somewhat front-heavy; folded wings are same length as tail.

    © Benjamin M Clock | Macaulay LibraryAlaska, May 27, 2009
    Western Sandpiper Juvenile
    Juvenile

    Juveniles look like nonbreeding adults but have a more scaly-looking back with a whiter face.

    © Evan Lipton | Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, September 09, 2015
    Western Sandpiper Juvenile
    Juvenile

    In flight, rusty shoulder bars on juveniles can be seen at close range. As in most other "peep" sandpipers, note black stripe down the center of the tail.

    © Logan Lalonde | Macaulay LibraryBritish Columbia, April 25, 2013
    Western Sandpiper Nonbreeding adults
    Nonbreeding adults

    Tiny shorebird with whitish face and little streaking on the breast. Often forages by probing into mud and sand at water's edge.

    © Timothy Barksdale | Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, February 01, 1997
    Western Sandpiper Breeding adult
    Breeding adult

    Small, portly sandpiper with black legs and a black bill. Looks rather large headed compared to similar species. Breeding adults have rusty highlights in the head and shoulders.

    © Brooke Miller | Macaulay LibraryAlaska, May 06, 2015
    Western Sandpiper Nonbreeding adult
    Nonbreeding adult

    Small shorebird with a short neck and larger head. Nonbreeding birds are grayish above and white below. Often forages with its head even with or above the body.

    © Chris Wood | Macaulay LibraryNew York, September 20, 2008
    Western Sandpiper Juvenile
    Juvenile

    Juveniles have crisp scaly markings on the back as a result of their newly grown feathers. They also show a rusty bar on the shoulder at a time when adults are in their brown-and-white nonbreeding plumage.

    © Timothy Barksdale | Macaulay LibraryKansas, August 01, 1995
    Western Sandpiper Nonbreeding adult with Sanderling
    Nonbreeding adult with Sanderling

    Smaller than a Sanderling. Nonbreeding birds have limited streaking on the breast.

    © Chris Wood | Macaulay LibraryNew York, September 20, 2008
    Western Sandpiper Breeding adult
    Breeding adult

    Breeding birds have a rusty cap and rusty mottling on the back. From a distance its whiter face stands out.

    © Tim Lenz | Macaulay LibraryAlaska, May 19, 2012
    Western Sandpiper Flock
    Flock

    Often seen on migration and wintering grounds in large flocks, sometimes with other "peep" species.

    © Timothy Barksdale | Macaulay LibraryWashington, January 01, 1994
    Western Sandpiper Habitat
    Habitat

    Breeds in tundra with dwarf vegetation. Migrates and winters along mudflats, beaches, shores of lakes and ponds, and flooded fields.

    © Jennifer O'Neill | Macaulay LibraryWashington, April 29, 2017
    See more images of this species in Macaulay Library

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    Adult Description

    Small sandpiper. Short neck. Moderately long bill, with slight droop. Moderately long legs. Black center of rump and tail. Legs black. Back gray-brown with some reddish. Chest usually only lightly marked. In breeding plumage has chestnut on back, crown, and back of face. Short webbing between toes (hard to see).

    Immature Description

    Juvenile similar to adult, but with more scaly pattern on back.
    Relative Size

    Relative Sizebetween sparrow and robinbetween sparrow and robin
    Measurements
    • Both Sexes
      • Length: 5.5-6.7 in (14-17 cm)
      • Weight: 0.8-1.2 oz (22-35 g)
      • Wingspan: 10.2-14.6 in (26-37 cm)

    Species in This Family

    Sandpipers and Allies(Order: Charadriiformes, Family: Scolopacidae)

    Upland SandpiperUpland Sandpiper
    WhimbrelWhimbrel
    Long-billed CurlewLong-billed Curlew
    Hudsonian GodwitHudsonian Godwit
    Marbled GodwitMarbled Godwit
    Ruddy TurnstoneRuddy Turnstone
    Black TurnstoneBlack Turnstone
    Red KnotRed Knot
    SurfbirdSurfbird
    Stilt SandpiperStilt Sandpiper
    SanderlingSanderling
    DunlinDunlin
    Rock SandpiperRock Sandpiper
    Purple SandpiperPurple Sandpiper
    Baird's SandpiperBaird's Sandpiper
    Least SandpiperLeast Sandpiper
    White-rumped SandpiperWhite-rumped Sandpiper
    Buff-breasted SandpiperBuff-breasted Sandpiper
    Pectoral SandpiperPectoral Sandpiper
    Semipalmated SandpiperSemipalmated Sandpiper
    Western SandpiperWestern Sandpiper
    Short-billed DowitcherShort-billed Dowitcher
    Long-billed DowitcherLong-billed Dowitcher
    American WoodcockAmerican Woodcock
    Wilson's SnipeWilson's Snipe
    Wilson's PhalaropeWilson's Phalarope
    Spotted SandpiperSpotted Sandpiper
    Solitary SandpiperSolitary Sandpiper
    Wandering TattlerWandering Tattler
    Greater YellowlegsGreater Yellowlegs
    WilletWillet
    Lesser YellowlegsLesser Yellowlegs

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