Western Sandpiper

The Western Sandpiper, Calidris mauri, presents itself as a small and delicate shorebird, a creature of subtle beauty. Its upperparts are cloaked in a warm brown, while the underparts remain a pristine white. A distinctive reddish-brown crowns the head, setting it apart from its peers. The legs are a dark hue, and the bill, short and thin, tapers elegantly to a finer point.

Identification Tips

When attempting to identify the Western Sandpiper, one must note its dark legs and the slender, dark bill, which is particularly thin at the tip. In size, it ranges from 5.5 to 6.7 inches in length, with a wingspan stretching between 13.8 and 14.6 inches, and weighs a mere 0.8 to 1.2 ounces. Observers should be aware that in its winter plumage, the bird adopts a more subdued gray coloration, which can make differentiation from the Semipalmated Sandpiper a challenge. However, the Western Sandpiper transitions to its winter plumage earlier in the autumn season.

Habitat

During the breeding season, the Western Sandpiper favors the tundra of eastern Siberia and Alaska, where it nests on the ground, often shielded by vegetation. Outside of breeding times, it can be found foraging on mudflats, a habitat it shares with other migratory shorebirds.

Distribution

This species is a traveler, migrating to the coasts of North and South America, as well as the Caribbean. It is an exceptionally rare visitor to western Europe.

Behaviour

The Western Sandpiper is known for its foraging technique, which involves probing mudflats or visually picking up food. During the breeding season, it forages on the tundra and in wet meadows. It is a sociable bird, often seen in large flocks during migration and in its wintering grounds.

Song & Calls

The vocalizations of the Western Sandpiper are a series of soft, high-pitched calls that can be heard during its flight and social interactions.

Breeding

In the breeding season, the Western Sandpiper selects the tundra for its nesting grounds. The male prepares several scrapes on the ground, with the female choosing one to lay her clutch of 4 eggs. Both parents share the responsibility of incubation and care for the young, who are precocial and feed themselves. It is not uncommon for the female to leave the male and offspring before the young have fully fledged.

Diet and Feeding

The diet of the Western Sandpiper is varied, including insects, spiders, small crustaceans, mollusks, polychaete worms, and seeds. A notable aspect of their feeding behavior is the heavy grazing on biofilm found on the surface of intertidal mudflats, a recent discovery that highlights the bird's adaptability.

Conservation status

The Western Sandpiper is currently classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, reflecting its abundant population, which numbers in the millions. This status is a testament to the resilience of the species, but continued monitoring is essential to ensure its future.