North American field guide

Sanderling

Calidris alba

Explore this bird

Identification

18-20 cm (7-8") Abundant. Nests on Tundra, winters along sandy coastal beaches.

Plump Robin-sized sandpiper often seen at surf picking up food exposed by retreating waves. Straight black bill as long as its head; black legs.

Summer: black speckled bright rusty upperparts, head, neck and upper breast; white lower breast, sides, belly.

Winter: very pale gray above, pure white below; black shoulder patch may be visible.

In flight, bold white wing-stripe.

Song: "kip".

Details in the field

4 photos

Credit: Andy Morffew

Credit: Kevin Lin

Watch and learn

4 videos

SANDERLINGS - Sandpipers in Motion - Piper - New Brunswick Canada Shore Birds

Credit: Stuart Tingley

Sanderling - Maui

Credit: NY2Calif

SANDERLINGS - Busibodies of the Beach

Credit: rwmcfarlane

Sanderling and Turnstone, Salthouse 12.02.2012

Credit: garybirder

Bird Advisor Identification rules 2 variants 2 rules

These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.

1 rule

Rule 1 12 criteria confidence 9

In FLIGHT did the bird display a LIGHT WING STRIPE or PATCH ?: Yes · Unknown
What colour were the LEGS or FEET ?: Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?: Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and slender · Straight and thick · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Medium · Long · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Sparrow-sized · Robin-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Sandpiper-like
WHEN was the bird seen ?: Spring · Summer · Fall

result:620-sanderling-breeding-plumage:1:1 Source: 620 Sanderling (Breeding Plumage), row 1

1 rule

Rule 1 12 criteria confidence 9

In FLIGHT did the bird display a LIGHT WING STRIPE or PATCH ?: Yes · Unknown
What colour were the LEGS or FEET ?: Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?: Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and slender · Straight and thick · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Medium · Long · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Sparrow-sized · Robin-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Sandpiper-like
WHEN was the bird seen ?: Spring · Fall · Winter

result:621-sanderling-non-breeding:1:1 Source: 621 Sanderling (Non-breeding), row 1