Spotted Sandpiper

Types of Shorebirds American Avocet Black-necked Stilt Black Oyster Catcher Black Turnstone Dunlin Greater Yellowlegs Killdeer Long-billed Curlew Red-necked Phalarope Sanderling Semipalmated Plover Surfbird Western Sandpiper Willet Wilson's Phalarope

Spotted Sandpipers (Actitis macularius) are one of the most common shorebirds in the United States.

They are very adaptable birds that feel equally at home near your back yard pond as they feel in a marsh or wetlands in the wilderness.

The white underside, covered with various shades of spots, and the orange bill, make for easy identification of the species.

They do not rank as the most social of shorebirds. Often during migration you can spot them alone or in a very small group.

© 2005 Patricia A. Michaels