Semipalmated Sandpiper

The Semipalmated Sandpiper, Calidris pusilla, is a very small shorebird. It is sometimes separated with other stints in Erolia but although these apparently form a monophyletic group, the present species' old genus Ereunetes had been proposed before Erolia.

The Semipalmated Sandpiper is classified as Least Concern. Does not qualify for a more at risk category. Widespread and abundant taxa are included in this category.

The Semipalmated Sandpiper, Calidris pusilla, is a very small shorebird. It is sometimes separated with other "stints" in Erolia but although these apparently form a monophyletic group, the present species' old genus Ereunetes had been proposed before Erolia. Adults have black legs and a short stout straight dark bill. The body is dark grey-brown on top and white underneath. The head and neck are tinged light grey-brown. More

* Semipalmated Sandpiper Species Account - Cornell Lab of Ornithology * Semipalmated Sandpiper Calidris pusilla - USGS Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter * Semipalmated Sandpiper Information and Photos - South Dakota Birds and Birding * Johnson's Mills Nature Preserve on Shepody Bay * An online identification article covering this species and other small calidrids More

An abundant small shorebird, the Semipalmated Sandpiper breeds in the Arctic and winters along the coasts of South America. More

Semipalmated Sandpiper - foot showing semipalmation Semipalmated Sandpiper - foot showing semipalmation Semipalmated Sandpiper (juvenile) Semipalmated Sandpiper (juvenile) Page: 1 © Lloyd Spitalnik 1994-2010 Contact: Lloyd Spitalnik web hit counter More

The Semipalmated Sandpiper Calidris pusilla, only about 30 g in weight and 14 cm long, is one of Canada’s smallest shorebirds. Its name comes from the partial webs between its toes. Males and females are identical in rather plain brown or grey plumage although females are slightly larger. The species can be difficult to distinguish from other small sandpipers. Semipalmated Sandpipers moult, or shed, their body feathers twice a year. More

Semipalmated Sandpiper - Calidris pusilla = Characteristics Range Habitat Diet Life Cycle Behavior Classification Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Charadriiformes Family: Scolopacidae Genus: Calidris Semipalmated Sandpiper Click on the images for a larger view. More

Semipalmated Sandpiper: Breeds in lower Arctic regions from western Alaska to Labrador. Migrates through the interior and along the Atlantic coast to reach its wintering grounds, which extend from the southern U.S. to South America. Preferred habitats include shorelines and mudflats. More

North American RangeThe Semipalmated Sandpiper is a small shorebird in the group known as peeps or stints. The Semipalmated Sandpiper gets its name from the slight webbing at the base of its toes. This can be difficult to see and is not diagnostic, as other sandpipers also have these webbed feet. Its stubby bill and drab plumage help distinguish it from the other peeps, the Least and Western Sandpipers. The adult in breeding plumage is mottled black-and-brown, with little or no rufous coloration. More

Semipalmated Sandpiper is slightly smaller than Western Sandpiper (Calidris mauri), with black, shorter, straight bill, thick at base and less pointed tip. Breast sides are streaked. We can see narrow white wing bar. Legs are blackish. During the breeding season, the upperparts are blackish-brown, with cinnamon edges, and the streaked breast is darker. Outside the breeding season, plumage is rather pale grey with paler belly. More

The Semipalmated Sandpiper, Calidris pusilla, is a very small shorebird. It is sometimes separated with other "stints" in Erolia but although these apparently form a monophyletic group, the present species' old genus Ereunetes had been proposed before Erolia. More

* Similar Species: Semipalmated Sandpipers can be difficult to distinguish from other small sandpipers. Their wing tips do not extend past the tail, which distinguishes them from White-rumped and Baird More

Return Semipalmated Sandpiper back to Birds of North America - Classic Collection of North American Birds CCNAB footer for semipalmated sandpiper page More

Semipalmated SandpiperThe semipalmated sandpiper breeds in northern Alaska and Canada south to the Hudson Bay. It migrates through the eastern and central states and winters in South America. Habitat The semipalmated sandpiper breeds on the tundra. It winters on and migrates along coastal beaches, lake and river shores, mudflats, and salt marshes. Diet The semipalmated sandpiper eats seeds and aquatic invertebrates. More

Semipalmated Sandpiper The Semipalmated Sandpiper, Calidris or Erolia pusilla, is a very small shorebird. Adults have black legs and a short stout straight dark bill. The body is dark grey-brown on top and white underneath. The head and neck are tinged light grey-brown. This bird can be difficult to distinguish from other similar tiny shorebirds, in particular the Western Sandpiper; these are known collectively as "peeps" or "stints". More

Semipalmated Sandpiper - Calidris pusilla * Semipalmated Sandpiper * Semipalmated Sandpiper Global Rank: G5 State Rank: SNA Agency Status USFWS: none USFS: none BLM: none FWP Conservation Tier: 3 PIF: none General DescriptionWe do not yet have descriptive information on this More

Two Semipalmated Sandpipers foraging on the beach together at Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, Virginia, United States. Image ID #: 20D41868 Species: Semipalmated Sandpiper (Calidris pusilla) Location: Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, Virginia, United States. Description: Two Semipalmated Sandpipers foraging on the beach together at Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, Virginia, United States. More

Two juvenile Semipalmated Sandpipers foraging on the beach. An adult Semipalmated Sandpiper standing in green water with a full reflection. An adult Semipalmated Sandpiper in breeding plumage foraging in water. Two juvenile Semipalmated Sandpipers foraging on the beach. An adult Semipalmated Sandpiper standing in green water with a full reflection. An adult Semipalmated Sandpiper in breeding plumage foraging in water. All Images More

Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusilla Order CHARADRIIFORMES – Family SCOLOPACIDAE Issue No. 006 – Revised: February 24, 2010 Authors: Gratto-Trevor, Cheri L. Revisors: Hicklin, Peter * Articles * Multimedia * References Courtesy Preview This Introductory article that you are viewing is a courtesy preview of the full life history account of this species. The remaining articles (Distribution, Habitat, Behavior, etc. More

Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusilla WatchList 2007 Status: http://web1.audubon.org/filerepository/science/speciesprofiles/watchlist/Yellow. More

obvious Semipalmated Sandpiper photographed by Chuck Gates on July 30 at Prineville Reservoir, Crook Co., Oregon. They are not all this obvious; July birds are generally easier to identify than September birds. "Obvious?" you ask. It looks like any one of a million little brown shorebirds. What do I look at first? Well, I can't help it, I am drawn to the very short, very blunt-tipped bill. More

The Semipalmated Sandpiper (Calidris pusilla) is one of the small shorebirds collectively referred to as "peeps" or "stints". The species breeds in the far north in areas such as Alaska, northern Canada, the Bay of Fundy area, etc. It migrates across much of the U.S. to winter in the Caribbean and northern South America. There are very few documented records of this species wintering in the United States except for extreme southern Florida. More

Semipalmated Sandpiper was once thought to be no more than casual in Arizona and the interior West, but it's recently been shown to be a rare but regular Fall migrant throughout the state from July through early October. It's still considered to be casual as a Spring migrant in the AZ. David Stejskal digiscope photo 30 July 2005. More