Least Sandpiper Photo Gallery
Breeding adult
Small sandpiper with yellow legs and a thin slightly curved bill. Breeding birds have rusty speckling on the back.
© Simon Boivin / Macaulay LibraryQuebec, May 21, 2020Nonbreeding adult
Small sandpiper with yellow legs. Nonbreeding birds are brownish with a smudgy brown breast.
© Ian Davies / Macaulay LibraryGeorgia, September 28, 2016Breeding adults
Very small sandpiper with yellowish legs and thin, slightly drooped bill. Favors muddy habitats.
© Jay McGowan / Macaulay LibraryNew York, May 01, 2013Not all videos have soundJuvenile
Juveniles have brighter rusty-colored speckling on the back than breeding adults.
© Alix d'Entremont / Macaulay LibraryNova Scotia, August 27, 2014Breeding adult
Breeding birds have a heavily streaked throat and breast. Note yellow legs and small size.
© Jay McGowan / Macaulay LibraryNew York, May 18, 2017Juvenile
Juveniles have yellow legs, like adults—but note that mud can obscure leg color. Juveniles have brighter rusty-colored speckling on the back than breeding adults.
© Alix d'Entremont / Macaulay LibraryNova Scotia, August 23, 2014Nonbreeding adult
Nonbreeding birds have a smudgy throat unlike similar sandpipers. Tends to have a more crouched posture when foraging.
© Mike Cameron / Macaulay LibraryTexas, April 01, 2017Juvenile
In flight, note short, dark wings and small overall size.
© Brooke Miller / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, August 27, 2016Habitat
Forages on mudflats and the edges of water bodies. Tends to favor muddier shores and estuaries than other sandpipers.
© Alex Lamoreaux / Macaulay LibraryOhio, July 29, 2016Compare with Similar Species
Click on an image to compare
Species in This Family
Sandpipers and Allies(Order: Charadriiformes, Family: Scolopacidae)
Don't miss a thing! Join our email list
The Cornell Lab will send you updates about birds,
birding, and opportunities to help bird conservation.