Species › Birds › Least Sandpiper

Least Sandpiper

Calidris minutilla

CommonBird
Illustration of Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla)

The Least Sandpiper is the smallest shorebird in the world, weighing barely more than a tablespoon of butter. It is distinguished from other 'peeps' by its yellow-green legs (other peeps have black legs) and brownish, hunched appearance. It tends to feed higher up on mudflats in drier areas than other peeps.

Habitat
Arctic tundra in summer; marshes and mudflat edges in migration
Diet
Tiny invertebrates, seeds, and aquatic organisms
How common
Common

Best time to see a Least Sandpiper

The best time to see a Least Sandpiper is March–September, when about 65% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 44,357 research-grade iNaturalist observations.

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