Semipalmated Sandpiper Sounds

Overview
ID info
Life History
Maps
Sounds

Calls
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New Jersey, May 31, 2003Recorded by Randolph Little / Macaulay Library
Calls
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Maine, September 08, 1996Recorded by Charles Duncan / Macaulay Library
Calls
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Florida, May 10, 2018Recorded by Paul Marvin / Macaulay Library
Calls
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Kansas, May 24, 2015Recorded by Paul Marvin / Macaulay Library
Calls
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Alaska, July 16, 2007Recorded by Gerrit Vyn / Macaulay Library
Flock calls
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Florida, May 14, 2016Recorded by Paul Marvin / Macaulay Library
Song
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Alaska, June 18, 2006Recorded by Gerrit Vyn / Macaulay Library
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Alaska, June 19, 2006Recorded by Gerrit Vyn / Macaulay Library

Sounds provided by Macaulay Library.
Listen to more sounds of this species from the ML archive.

Songs

During aerial displays, males make a bizarre “motorboat” vocalization, described as a “pulsating vurravurravurra” sound. They then begin to sing a series of twittering phrases that sound very much like sped-up versions of their call notes. Other displaying "peep" sandpipers (genus Calidris) give a call note in rhythmic repetition as their song, quite unlike Semipalmated.

Calls

Semipalmated Sandpiper often gives a low chert or chirrup call, sometimes doubled. Other calls include a scolding, nasal jer-jer-jer-jer-jer, a trilling yu-yu-yu-yu by courting males, and various trills and alarm notes.