Bird Guide

Stilt Sandpiper vs White-rumped Sandpiper

Stilt Sandpiper (Calidris himantopus)

Stilt Sandpiper

Calidris himantopus

Small57 gWetland

The stilt sandpiper resembles the curlew sandpiper in its long bill, long neck, pale supercilium and white rump. It is readily distinguished from that species by its straighter bill (only slightly curved, not obviously so), its longer and greenish-yellow (not black) legs, and in flight, by the lack of a wingbar. It also lacks an obvious wing bar in flight. Breeding adults are distinctive, heavily barred with blackish bars on a white background beneath, and with reddish-orange patches above and below the white supercilium. The back is brown with darker feather centres.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Len Blumin · CC BY 2.0
White-rumped Sandpiper (Calidris fuscicollis)

White-rumped Sandpiper

Calidris fuscicollis

Small43 gWetland

The white-rumped sandpiper is a relatively small bird measuring only 15–18 cm (5.9–7.1 in), with a wingspan of 36–38 cm (14–15 in). The top of its body is a dull grey-brown colour and it has a white eye stripe. Its beak is of medium length, thin and dark, and its legs are very dark. This bird is often mistaken with many similar-looking sandpipers that live in its range or along its migration path. The plumage is much less distinct during the winter; however, during all seasons males and females remain similar in their appearance. Voice: One of the white-rumped sandpiper vocalizations consists of a repeating "pip, pip, pip …" Their call has a distinctive metallic "tzeep" note which makes them easily identifiable among a flock of shorebirds. It resembles the sound of two pebbles scraping against one another.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Stephan Sprinz · CC BY 4.0

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Stilt Sandpiper and White-rumped Sandpiper.