Small, dainty shorebird that sits high on the water, with a slender neck and very thin, sharp bill. Breeding birds are dark gray above with a rusty neck and a dark gray cap.
Breeding males are less bright than females and tend to be more brownish gray above than dark gray.
Picks at the water's surface for zooplankton. Often feeds by spinning frantically in circles, drawing invertebrates up to the surface to eat.
Small shorebird with a long, thin bill. Nonbreeders are white below with a gray back. Note the black ear patch.
Juvenile look similar to nonbreeding birds, but have buffy stripes on the back.
In flight, note the darker marks on the underwings when comparing with Red Phalarope in flight.
Click on an image to compare
Small, dainty shorebird that sits high on the water, with a slender neck and very thin, sharp bill.
Larger than a Least Sandpiper, slightly smaller than a Red Phalarope.
robin-sizedSandpipers and Allies(Order: Charadriiformes, Family: Scolopacidae)
Need Bird ID Help? Try Merlin
The Cornell Lab will send you updates about birds,
birding, and opportunities to help bird conservation.
