Bird Guide

Solitary Sandpiper vs Wood Sandpiper

Solitary Sandpiper (Tringa solitaria)

Solitary Sandpiper

Tringa solitaria

Small48 gWetland

This species measures 18–23 cm (7.1–9.1 in) long, with a wingspan up to 50 cm (20 in) and a body mass of 31–65 g (1.1–2.3 oz). It is a dumpy wader with a dark green back, greyish head and breast and otherwise white underparts. It is obvious in flight, with wings dark above and below, and a dark rump and tail centre. The latter feature distinguishes it from the slightly larger and broader-winged, but otherwise very similar, green sandpiper (T. ochropus) of Europe and Asia, to which it is closely related. The latter species has a brilliant white rump.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Solitary Sandpiper
Recorded by Doug Hynes · Call · Little Mecatina River ("Bear Cache Island"), Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Janne Teivonen · CC BY 4.0
Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola)

Wood Sandpiper

Tringa glareola

Medium62 gWetland

The wood sandpiper resembles a longer-legged, more delicate form of the aforementioned green sandpiper (T. ochropus), or a solitary sandpiper (T. solitaria), albeit with a shorter, finer bill, brown back and longer yellowish legs. The wood sandpiper differs from the green by having a smaller, less contrasting white rump-patch, while the solitary sandpiper has no rump-patch, at all. However, the wood sandpiper is not closely related to these two species; its closest relative is the common redshank (T. totanus), with which it shares a sister relationship with the marsh sandpiper (T.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Wood Sandpiper
Recorded by Sonothèque ADVL · Flight call, song · Arrondissement of Avranches (near Vains), Manche, Normandy, France · CC0
Photo: Renz0903 · CC BY 4.0

Where you might meet both

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Solitary Sandpiper and Wood Sandpiper.