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Pectoral Sandpiper

Calidris melanotos ORDER: CHARADRIIFORMES FAMILY: SCOLOPACIDAE

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

A medium-sized, chunky shorebird, the Pectoral Sandpiper is found most commonly on mudflats with short grass or weedy vegetation and seems more at home in the grass than in the water.

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Appearance

Shorebirds
Shorebirds
Typical Voice

Adult Description

Medium-sized sandpiper. Moderately long neck. Moderately long, slightly drooping bill. Moderately long, yellowish or greenish legs. Dark, densely streaked chest showing sharp border with white belly. Dark center of rump and tail. Back reddish brown with two thin white lines extending it length.

Immature Description

Juvenile similar to adult, but with more scaly pattern on back and finer streaks on chest.

Range Map Help

Pectoral Sandpiper Range Map
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Field MarksHelp

  • Adult
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    Pectoral Sandpiper

    Adult
    • © 2004 Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Jamaica Bay, New York
  • Juvenile
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    Pectoral Sandpiper

    Juvenile
    • © Lang Elliott / CLO
  • Juvenile
    Zoom In

    Pectoral Sandpiper

    Juvenile
    • © 2004 Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Queens, New York, August 2000
  • Juvenile
    Zoom In

    Pectoral Sandpiper

    Juvenile
    • © 2004 Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Similar Species

  • Baird's Sandpiper smaller, with less distinct chest band, and scaly back without white stripes.
  • Least Sandpiper is similarly marked, but half the size.
  • Rare Sharp-tailed Sandpiper similar, but adult has heavy blackish chevrons on breast and flanks and a rufous cap. Juvenile has brighter reddish cap, a bold pale eyestripe, a buffy breast with fewer streaks, and thin black streaking up under the tail.