How to ID Sanderlings and Least Sandpipers
These two peeps can be a challenge for any birder, but both Sanderlings and Least Sandpipers are always worth a second look. Sanderlings are a delight to watch as they run back and forth on the beach, picking and probing for tiny prey in the surf. Least Sandpipers are more likely to comb the edges of mudflats and marshes for their chosen prey. Both bird species nest in the north, but are relatively widespread across the U.S. and Canada during migration. You might even spy migrating birds heading south as early as July! Use the ID clues below to learn how to distinguish them, so you can recognize these birds the next time you find them. Then, practice what you’ve learned with a re-playable quiz below.
| ID Clue | Sanderling | Least Sandpiper |
|---|---|---|
| Size | Relatively small, but larger than a Least Sandpiper | Smallest among all peeps |
| Legs | Dark legs | Yellow legs |
| Bill shape | Stout, straight bill | Thinner, slightly downcurved bill |
| Flight | Black leading edge of the wing, with broad white stripe | Thin white stripe in the wing |
| Plumage (nonbreeding) | Pale gray above and white below with no streaking | Light brown above and pale below, with streaking on the breast |
| Plumage (breeding) | Females have gray mottling, and males have rusty mottling on back, sides, and breast. You may need to look to the other clues for an ID! | Rusty mottling on back, sides, and breast. Look to the other clues for an ID! |
Lighting and perspective can sometimes make spotting these visual cues challenging. Can you still quickly pick out these two birds? You can replay the quiz as many times as you want. Each time you hit “Play Again,” you’ll have new photo matchups to practice on. Just click “Start Snap ID Challenge” to get started!
Test Your Peep ID Skills
Quizzing can be a great way to practice identifying birds and quickly train your skills any time, anywhere. Get more great photo-based practice with BirdWise, our brand new dedicated quizzing tool. Try BirdWise for free and learn to ID iconic species like the Yellow Warbler or Willet.
Interested in going further with the rewarding and exciting realm of shorebird identification? Check out the self-paced, online course Be a Better Birder: Shorebird Identification to learn keys to ID for the 47 shorebird species that regularly appear in the continental U.S. and Canada.
More to Explore with Bird Academy:
- Prepare for your next trip to the shore with a free, downloadable pocket guide to shorebirds you can print at home.
- Have you ever paid close attention to the way different shorebird species forage for food? Enjoy charming shorebird foraging behavior in this video.
- Explore recent live events and upcoming workshops.