White-rumped Sandpiper Similar Species Comparison
Similar Species
Baird's Sandpiper
Juvenile
Baird's Sandpipers are usually browner with a more scaly back pattern than White-rumped Sandpipers. The wingtips on Baird's extend farther past the end of the tail than they do on White-rumped Sandpiper.
© Dorian Anderson | Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, August 17, 2013Similar Species
Baird's Sandpiper
Nonbreeding adult
Baird's do not flash a white rump in flight like White-rumped Sandpipers and tend to be browner overall.
© Ian Davies | Macaulay LibraryOruro, August 22, 2013Similar Species
Dunlin
Nonbreeding adult
Dunlins are larger with a more pronounced downward curve in the bill than White-rumped Sandpipers. On nonbreeding birds, the eyebrow stripe is not as obvious on Dunlins as it is on White-rumped Sandpipers.
© Alix d'Entremont | Macaulay LibraryNova Scotia, October 12, 2014Similar Species
Western Sandpiper
Breeding adult
Western Sandpipers are smaller than White-rumped Sandpipers. Breeding birds have a rusty cap that neither breeding or nonbreeding White-rumped Sandpipers have.
© Thomas Barbin | Macaulay LibraryBritish Columbia, May 09, 2017Similar Species
Western Sandpiper
Nonbreeding adult
Western Sandpipers are smaller than White-rumped Sandpipers and do not flash white in the tail like White-rumps do in flight. Nonbreeding birds have a whiter breast than nonbreeding White-rumped Sandpipers.
© Patrick Maurice | Macaulay LibraryFlorida, November 06, 2016Similar Species
Least Sandpiper
Breeding adult
Least Sandpipers are smaller than White-rumped Sandpipers with yellow (not dark) legs. They also do not flash white in the tail like White-rumps do in flight.
© Evan Lipton | Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, May 19, 2016Similar Species
Least Sandpiper
Nonbreeding adult
Least Sandpipers are smaller than White-rumped Sandpipers with yellow (not dark) legs. They also do not flash white in the tail like White-rumps do in flight.
© Ian Davies | Macaulay LibraryGeorgia, September 28, 2016Similar Species
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Nonbreeding adult
Semipalmated Sandpipers are smaller than White-rumped Sandpipers. Nonbreeding Semipalmated Sandpipers have less streaking on the flanks than breeding White-rumps and a less obvious eyebrow than nonbreeding White-rumps.
© Jonathan Eckerson | Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, July 16, 2017Similar Species
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Breeding adult
Semipalmated Sandpipers are smaller than White-rumped Sandpipers. Breeding birds have less streaking on the flanks than breeding White-rumps.
© Davey Walters | Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, June 03, 2015Main Species
White-rumped Sandpiper
Breeding adult
Medium-sized grayish shorebird with a white eyebrow on its finely streaked head. Wingtips extend beyond the tail when at rest.
© Jay McGowan | Macaulay LibraryNew York, May 18, 2020Juvenile
Juveniles look like adults, but have chestnut fringed feathers on their backs. Note the white eyebrow on the finely streaked head.
© Samuel Paul Galick | Macaulay LibraryNew Jersey, October 16, 2014Adult
Long wings that come to a point past the end of the tail impart a streamlined look. At distance bill can look all dark.
© Benjamin Clock | Macaulay LibraryNew York, September 03, 2011Not all videos have sound
Juvenile
Juveniles often have brighter chestnut fringed feathers on the back than adults.
© Luke Seitz | Macaulay LibraryMaine, October 25, 2009Molting adult
On migration and during winter found in grassy marshes, mudflats, sandy beaches, flooded fields, and shores of ponds and lakes.
© Annie Lavoie | Macaulay LibraryQuebec, September 12, 2019Juvenile
The namesake white rump is visible in flight and sets it apart from other small sandpipers.
© Patrice St-Pierre | Macaulay LibraryQuebec, October 25, 2020Juvenile
Medium-sized sandpiper with wings that extend beyond the tail.
© Daniel Irons | Macaulay LibraryNew Jersey, October 12, 2019Breeding adult
Medium-sized grayish shorebird. Breeding adults have streaked flanks and a white eyebrow. The bill is black with a small amount of reddish orange at the base that is present in all ages, but the color can be difficult to see.
© Ian Davies | Macaulay LibraryAlaska, June 07, 2013Rotate Your Device to Better Compare
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Species in This Family
Sandpipers and Allies(Order: Charadriiformes, Family: Scolopacidae)
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