Measurements
Both Sexes
- Length
- 5.5–6.7 in
14–17 cm - Wingspan
- 10.2–14.6 in
26–37 cm - Weight
- 0.8–1.2 oz
22–35 g
Other Names
- Bécasseau d'Alaska (French)
- Playero, Chorlo, Chichicuilote occidental (Spanish)
Cool Facts
- In migration, the Western Sandpiper stages in huge, spectacular flocks, particularly along the Pacific coast from San Francisco Bay to the Copper River Delta in Alaska. Estimates suggest that as many as 6,500,000 individuals pass through the Copper River Delta during just a few weeks each spring.
Habitat
Shore-line
Breeds in coastal sedge-dwarf tundra. Migrates and winters along mudflats, beaches, shores or lakes and ponds, and flooded fields.
Food
Insects
Nesting
Nesting Facts
- Clutch Size
- 3–5 eggs
- Condition at Hatching
- Active and covered with down.
Nest Placement
Ground
Behavior
Ground Forager
Conservation
Least Concern
Common.
Credits
- Wilson, W. H. 1994. Western Sandpiper (Calidris mauri). In The Birds of North America, No. 90 (A. Poole and F. Gill, Eds.). Philadelphia: The Academy of Natural Sciences; Washington, D.C.: The American Ornithologists' Union.