Least Sandpiper
Calidris minutilla
The Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla) is a common sandpiper found in 61 countries, weighing about 23 g. The least sandpiper is the smallest shorebird.
About the Least Sandpiper
The least sandpiper is the smallest shorebird. The genus name is from Ancient Greek kalidris or skalidris, a term used by Aristotle for some grey-coloured waterside birds. The specific minutilla is Medieval Latin for "very small".
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
This species has yellow-green legs and a short, thin, dark bill. Breeding adults are brown with dark brown streaks on top and white underneath. They have a light line above the eye and a dark crown. In winter, Least sandpipers are grey above. The juveniles are brightly patterned above with rufous colour and white mantle stripes. This bird can be difficult to distinguish from other similar tiny shorebirds; these are known collectively as "peeps" or "stints". In particular, least sandpiper is very similar to its Asian counterpart, long-toed stint.
Where it lives
When to see it
Best months: January, February, March, April, May, July, August, September, October, November, December, with peak activity in August. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Least Sandpiper?
- This species has yellow-green legs and a short, thin, dark bill. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Least Sandpiper?
- The Least Sandpiper is a small sized bird weighing about 23 g.
- Where can you see a Least Sandpiper?
- The Least Sandpiper occurs in 61 countries, including the United States, Canada, Mexico, Costa Rica and Belize.
- What birds look similar to a Least Sandpiper?
- The Least Sandpiper is most easily confused with the Dunlin, the Sanderling and the Semipalmated Sandpiper.
- Is the Least Sandpiper endangered?
- The Least Sandpiper is listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Least Sandpiper for real
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