Western Sandpiper

Types of Shorebirds American Avocet Black-necked Stilt Black Oyster Catcher Black Turnstone Lesser Yellowlegs Marbled Godwit Pectoral Sandpiper Red-necked Phalarope Sanderling Semipalmated Plover Spotted Sandpiper Surfbird Willet Wilson's Phalarope

Western Sandpipers (Calidris mauri) are small shorebirds, often found in great numbers in locations (hundreds of thousands) around the United States.

Contrary to the name, they are found in coastal areas of the South Atlantic.

Look for black legs on a small sandpiper and you can be pretty sure it's the Western species. During breeding season, they have streaks on the breast.

© 2005 Patricia A. Michaels