Least Sandpiper

The Least Sandpiper, Calidris minutilla, is a diminutive shorebird, the smallest of its kind. Its legs are tinged with green, and it sports a short, slender, dark bill. During the breeding season, adults don a brown plumage with dark streaks above and a white underbelly. A light line graces the area above the eye, contrasting with a darker crown. In the non-breeding season, their upperparts transition to a more subdued grey. Juveniles are notably vibrant with rufous tones and white stripes adorning their mantle.

Identification Tips

Distinguishing the Least Sandpiper from other small shorebirds, colloquially termed "peeps" or "stints," can be quite the challenge. It bears a close resemblance to the Long-toed Stint, its Asian counterpart, but can be identified by its more compact build, shorter neck, and less pronounced toes. The Least Sandpiper also exhibits somewhat duller colors and a more pronounced wingbar.

Measurements

• Length: 5.1-5.9 inches (13-15 cm)
• Weight: 0.7-1.1 ounces (19-30 g)
• Wingspan: 10.6-11.0 inches (27-28 cm)

Breeding and Migration

The breeding grounds of the Least Sandpiper are found in the northern reaches of North America, where they favor tundra or boggy landscapes. They construct their nests on the ground, close to water bodies, with a simple scrape lined with grass and moss. The female lays a clutch of four eggs, and both parents share incubation duties. However, the female may depart before the chicks fledge or even before the eggs hatch. The young are precocial, feeding themselves and achieving flight within a fortnight of hatching.

Come migration, these birds travel in flocks to warmer climes, including the southern United States, Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and northern South America. They are also known to appear as rare vagrants in western Europe.

Feeding

Least Sandpipers forage on mudflats, where they employ both sight and probing to locate their prey. Their diet primarily consists of small crustaceans, insects, and snails.

Conservation Status

The IUCN Red List categorizes the Least Sandpiper as a species of Least Concern, indicating a stable population without immediate threats to its survival.