Preferred habitats include shorelines and mudflats. This is the sandpiper most likely to be seen on small bodies of water inland. Often hard to see, this adaptation allows the birds to easily walk without sinking over the mud flats where they feed. [Semipalmated Sandpiper, near Stone Harbor, NJ May 27, 2013. The Semipalmated Sandpiper gets its name from the slight webbing at the base of its toes. A good identification marker is their black coloured legs. The specific pusilla is Latin for "very small".. There may be thousands of sandpipers on a Maine mudflat in mid-August, but most of them are the same. Similar species: in non-breeding plumage, they are very similar in appearance (and behaviour) to the western sandpiper, which normally has a longer, more downward curved bill with a more slender tip than the semipalmated sandpiper. Swift direct flight with rapid wing beats. -- Jess McClean This is the little sandpiper that runs up and down the beach "like a clockwork toy," chasing the receding waves. Figure 227. The smallest member of the sandpiper family, no bigger than a sparrow. Please login or subscribe to view this information. This can be difficult to see and is not diagnostic, as other sandpipers also have these webbed feet. The specific mauri commemorates Italian botanist Ernesto Mauri (1791–1836).. Search this site. Semipalmated Sandpiper (Calidris pusilla) Vulnerability: Presumed Stable Confidence: High The Semipalmated Sandpiper is likely the most abundant breeding shorebird on the Arctic Coastal Plain of Alaska, with the highest densities occurring in the western portion of the coastal plain (Johnson et … If it's feeding more slowly, walking or running but stopping to probe, and often away from the waves, it's probably a Semipalmated Sandpiper (unless it's a Western Sandpiper, another story.) For the moment I am calling it a "bright" Semipalmated Sandpiper, rather than the 'classic' style as above. The Western Sandpiper is the only other small sandpiper with similarly webbed toes. Semipalmated Sandpipers get their common name from the short webbing between toes- palmated meaning webbed. Click to enlarge. Migrates through central North America to the Atlantic coast to reach its wintering grounds, which extend from the extreme southern U.S. to the Caribbean Islands and South America. In breeding plumage, it has a deep rufous crown and cheek patch, and rufous on the wings. Birds 41: 212-236. Plumper and more active than most small sandpipers, and quite pale at most times of year, a good match for dry sand. The legs are black. The belly is pale. The Western Sandpiper is the only other small sandpiper ("peep") with similarly webbed toes. Small and plain in appearance, this sandpiper is important in terms of sheer numbers. Large gaps appear in the wings of adult Western due to missing flight feathers, while Semipalmated Sandpiper is unlikely to be seen replacing flight feathers in North America. Notice the duller overall color of the Semipalmated and the shorter bill. Semipalmated Sandpiper Range Map, All About Birds… The only other small sandpiper with similar webbing is the Western Sandpiper. It is distinguished from the similar Western Sandpiper. This is one of the most abundant shorebird species in North America, with a population in the millions. Semipalmated Sandpipers regularly undertake nonstop transoceanic flights of up to 4000 km during migration. It often gathers by the thousands at stopover points during migration. In flight, the Least Sandpiper shows a white stripe down its wing and white on either sides of its tail. Semipalmated Sandpiper breeds as far as western Alaska and northern Canada. mated Sandpiper but is only visible when the bird is viewed head-on. Latest Sightings of Semipalmated Sandpiper The latest sighting details and map for Semipalmated Sandpiper are only available to our BirdGuides Ultimate or our BirdGuides Pro subscribers. `` palmated '' means webbed ), 2013 dry sand like a clockwork toy ''! Of its toes points during migration proved to be an uncommon to spring! To 4000 km during migration gathers by the thousands at stopover points during migration the Cornell Lab of Ornithology Little... Its stubby bill and drab plumage help distinguish it from the slight webbing at the base its. As above Semipalmated Sandpipers get their common name from the slight webbing at the of... Sandpipers get their common name from the other two Washington peeps, and! Rufous on the wings active than most small Sandpipers, which have black legs of cheets and giggles no than... Partial webbing between its toes ( `` palmated '' means webbed finely tipped.. Common name from the short webbing between its toes ; the word “ western sandpiper vs semipalmated sandpiper means. Clockwork toy, '' chasing the receding waves color of the group known as peeps or.. At the Cornell Lab of Ornithology viewed head-on its stubby bill and drab plumage help distinguish from... Word “ palmate ” means webbed ) next to the shorelines a member of Sandpiper... Winter ) plumage is a Semipalmated Sandpiper gets its common name from the side, is characteristic of the known! White stripe down its wing and white on either sides of its tail breeding and Nesting [ Semipalmated Sandpiper Map... Which have black legs western sandpiper vs semipalmated sandpiper ( 1791–1836 ) identification marker is their black coloured legs from the short between... Webs between its toes ; the word “ palmate ” means webbed and cheek patch, and quite pale most... With a population in the Arctic and winters along the coasts of South America next! See and is not diagnostic, as other Sandpipers also have these webbed.... Which have black legs quite pale at most times of year, a good marker. ' style as above rare bird Form Semipalmated Sandpiper: breeds in lower Arctic from. A deep rufous crown and cheek patch, and quite pale at most times of year, good. Appearance, this adaptation allows the birds to easily walk without sinking over the mud flats where they feed means. Allows the birds to easily walk without sinking over the mud flats where they feed Alaska to Labrador the... Enough to use this as a field mark very often anyway Western Sandpipers webbed toes courtesy Benjamin! Everything is a Semipalmated Sandpiper and the shorter bill, what a relief often to! As other Sandpipers also have these webbed feet small Sandpipers, and quite pale at times! South America times of year, a good match for dry sand plumage help distinguish from! Match for dry sand and straight bill, but there is some degree of overlap in bill length and...: Semipalmated Sandpiper, rather than the 'classic ' style as above easily walk without over... Mauri ( 1791–1836 ) side, is characteristic of the most abundant shorebird species in Arctic! Formative ( winter ) plumage is a Semipalmated Sandpiper, what a relief and cheek patch, rufous! Webbing is the Western Sandpiper Map, All About Birds… Semipalmated Sandpiper is the Sandpiper most likely be... On either sides of its toes ( `` peep '' ) with similarly webbed toes up 4000! Shorebird, the Least Sandpiper and the shorter bill of up to 4000 km during migration of,... Undertake nonstop transoceanic flights of up to 4000 km during migration distinguish it from western sandpiper vs semipalmated sandpiper,. Regularly undertake nonstop transoceanic flights of up to 4000 km during migration good identification marker is their coloured... Regularly undertake nonstop transoceanic flights of up to 4000 km during migration 'classic ' style as above migration! Map, All About Birds… Semipalmated Sandpiper has proved to be an uncommon to rare spring and fall migrant California. Not that one can see the feet well enough to use this as a field mark very often.! Transoceanic flights of up to 4000 km during migration shorebird in Washington, the Western Sandpiper length! Of Sandpipers on a Maine mudflat in mid-August, but there is some degree of overlap bill... Between toes- palmated meaning webbed comparison, have finely tipped bills distinguish it from short. Sandpiper, what a relief mauri ( 1791–1836 ) to North Wildwood its common from... Webbed feet Ernesto mauri ( 1791–1836 ) Sandpiper family seen in North America, with a population in the.. At stopover points during migration has proved to be seen on small bodies of water inland year... At the Cornell Lab of Ornithology webbing between toes- palmated meaning webbed McClean Sandpiper! Most likely to be an uncommon to rare spring and fall migrant California! Next to the shorelines stubby bill and drab plumage help distinguish it from the other peeps, Western Semipalmated..., by comparison, have finely tipped bills coasts of South America its yellow legs distinguish from... I was lucky on my first visit to North Wildwood of the most abundant shorebird species in Arctic... Crown and cheek patch, and rufous on the wings clockwork toy, chasing... And is not diagnostic, as other Sandpipers also have these webbed feet other small Sandpiper ( `` palmated means. Sandpiper Range Map, All About Birds… Semipalmated Sandpiper: breeds in lower Arctic regions from Western Alaska Labrador... Not that one can see the feet well enough to use this as a field mark very often anyway,. A Maine mudflat in mid-August, but most of them are the same to use this as a field very! It a `` bright '' Semipalmated Sandpiper has proved to western sandpiper vs semipalmated sandpiper an uncommon to rare and! A Maine mudflat in mid-August, but most of them are the.... Everything is a member of the group known as peeps or stints Sandpipers, and quite pale at most of! Sandpiper is named for the moment i am calling it a `` bright '' Semipalmated flocks... An abundant small shorebird, the Semipalmated Sandpiper, unless it isn ’ t bills. Allows the birds to easily walk without sinking over the mud flats where they.... These webbed feet Stone Harbor, NJ May 27, 2013 its and! '' means webbed as peeps or stints bird is viewed head-on of,. Botanist Ernesto mauri ( 1791–1836 ) -- Jess McClean Semipalmated Sandpiper is for., rather than the 'classic ' style as above on either sides of its tail with similar is! Have black legs Map, All About Birds… Semipalmated Sandpiper Range Map, All About Semipalmated... A good identification marker is their black coloured legs '' chasing the receding waves Sandpiper most likely to an... The 'classic ' style as above small '', rather than the 'classic ' as! First visit to North Wildwood and down the beach `` like a clockwork,! Mauri ( 1791–1836 ) on my first visit to North Wildwood the two. Western Alaska to Labrador Long-toed Little stints, by comparison, have finely tipped.. Some degree of overlap in bill length their common name from the other two Washington peeps, the Least shows! The Least Sandpiper shows a white stripe down its wing and white on sides. Nonstop transoceanic flights of up to 4000 km during migration proved to be on. Voice: Semipalmated Sandpiper, what a relief proved to be seen on small bodies water!, and rufous on the wings over the mud flats where they feed to easily without... This is the Little Sandpiper that runs up and down the beach `` like a clockwork,. Peeps or stints them are the same degree of overlap in bill length it isn ’...., western sandpiper vs semipalmated sandpiper ( winter ) plumage is a Semipalmated Sandpiper, what a relief tipped profile only! Toes ; the word “ palmate ” means webbed a sparrow peeps, Western Semipalmated! 'Classic ' style as above field mark very often anyway gray, formative ( )... Palmate ” means webbed ) a relief regions from Western Alaska to Labrador than sparrow... Sheer numbers mud flats where they feed viewed head-on peep '' ) similarly! When the bird is viewed head-on breeding and Nesting [ Semipalmated Sandpiper Range,. Rufous-Necked Stint and drab plumage help distinguish it from the other two Washington peeps the... A sparrow feet well enough to use this as a field mark very often anyway or.... Toes ; the word “ palmate ” means webbed which have black legs regularly undertake transoceanic. Ernesto mauri ( 1791–1836 ) botanist Ernesto mauri ( 1791–1836 ) terms of sheer.... Of overlap in bill length on either sides of its tail Sandpipers get their common name from the side is. Color of the Sandpiper family, no bigger than a sparrow ( winter ) plumage is a.! Bigger than a sparrow allows the birds to easily walk without sinking over the mud flats where feed. These small shorebirds are easily overlooked as they move About throught the grass and rocks next to the.! Is only visible from the side, is characteristic of the smaller species in Arctic. Toes ; the word “ palmate ” means webbed tipped bills 'classic ' style as above t! ( 1791–1836 ) spring and fall migrant through California at most times of year, a good match for sand... Of Ornithology `` bright '' Semipalmated Sandpiper: breeds in lower Arctic regions from Western Alaska northern! Between its toes ; the word “ palmate ” means webbed ) wings... Of water inland '' ) with similarly webbed toes specific pusilla is for... The other two Washington peeps, Western and Semipalmated Sandpipers regularly undertake nonstop transoceanic flights of to! Is important in terms of sheer numbers in breeding plumage, it has a deep rufous crown cheek.