Common Sandpiper
Actitis hypoleucos
The Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos) is a common sandpiper found in 164 countries, weighing about 48 g. The common sandpiper is a small Palearctic wader.
About the Common Sandpiper
The common sandpiper is a small Palearctic wader. This bird and its American sister species, the spotted sandpiper, make up the genus Actitis. They are parapatric and replace each other geographically; stray birds of either species may settle down with breeders of the other and hybridize. Hybridization has also been reported between the common sandpiper and the green sandpiper, a member of the closely related genus Tringa.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The adult is 18–20 cm (7.1–7.9 in) long with a 32–35 cm (13–14 in) wingspan. It has greyish-brown upperparts, white underparts, short dark-yellowish legs and feet, and a bill with a pale base and dark tip. In winter plumage, they are duller and have more conspicuous barring on the wings, though this is still only visible at close range. Juveniles are more heavily barred above and have buff edges to the wing feathers. This species is very similar to the slightly larger spotted sandpiper (A. macularia) in non-breeding plumage.
What the Common Sandpiper sounds like
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in United States, New Zealand.
When to see it
The Common Sandpiper can be seen all year round, with peak activity in May. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Common Sandpiper?
- The adult is 18–20 cm (7.1–7.9 in) long with a 32–35 cm (13–14 in) wingspan. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Common Sandpiper?
- The Common Sandpiper is a small sized bird weighing about 48 g.
- Where can you see a Common Sandpiper?
- The Common Sandpiper occurs in 164 countries, including Sweden, India, Spain, Norway and Taiwan.
- What does a Common Sandpiper sound like?
- You can listen to 3 field recordings of the Common Sandpiper on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
- What birds look similar to a Common Sandpiper?
- The Common Sandpiper is most easily confused with the Spotted Sandpiper.
- Is the Common Sandpiper endangered?
- The Common Sandpiper is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Common Sandpiper for real
BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.
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