The Sanderling is the classic shorebird of sandy ocean beaches, the small white-and-gray bird seen running back and forth in front of incoming waves, probing the wet sand for invertebrates exposed by the wash. It breeds on the extreme High Arctic where it is one of the northernmost nesting shorebirds. In winter it is among the palest of sandpipers.
Best time to see a Sanderling
The best time to see a Sanderling is August–January, when about 62% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 48,941 research-grade iNaturalist observations.
Not certain it is a Sanderling? What bird is this? walks through what to check first and the lookalikes that catch people out.
Recent Sanderling sightings near you
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