Pectoral Sandpiper

Types of Shorebirds Dunlin Greater Yellowlegs Killdeer Long-billed Curlew Long-billed Dowitcher Least Sandpiper Lesser Yellowlegs Marbled Godwit Red-necked Phalarope Sanderling Semipalmated Plover Spotted Sandpiper Surfbird Western Sandpiper Willet Wilson's Phalarope

Pectoral Sandpipers are neotropical migrants, more common in the Eastern part of the United States during migration.

They rank among the long distance shorebird migrants, typically breeding in northern latitudes like Canada and Alaska. Most migrate to South America for the winter.

Flying such a long distance means they are often seen in many inland and coastal locations across the United States during migration.

Pectorals are a bit larger than the smaller sandpipers. The orange-reddish coloring at the base of the bill is a good field identification mark.

Their diet consists mostly of insects and other aquatic organisms they find in the mudflats.

© 2005 Patricia A. Michaels