About the Spotted Sandpiper
The spotted sandpiper is a small shorebird. Together with its sister species the common sandpiper, it makes up the genus Actitis. They replace each other geographically; stray birds may settle down with breeders of the other species and hybridize.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
ID tip
Adults have short yellowish legs and an orange bill with a dark tip. The body is brown on top and white underneath with black spots. These spots vary in degree over the course of spotted sandpipers' lives, becoming especially prevalent around the breeding season. The overall health of spotted sandpipers may be suggested by the "spottiness" of an individual. Generally, females with more "spottiness" were healthier than those who did not have as many spots. The condition of males based on the amount of spots they exhibit is yet to be determined.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
What the Spotted Sandpiper sounds like
Where the Spotted Sandpiper lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in France, Belgium, Netherlands, Morocco, Falkland Islands, Czechia, Estonia.
When to see the Spotted Sandpiper
Peak activity in May · a variable species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Side by side: Common Sandpiper vs Spotted Sandpiper
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