The Semipalmated Sandpiper is one of the most abundant shorebirds in North America, staging in flocks of hundreds of thousands at key sites such as the Bay of Fundy, where individuals gorge on amphipods before making a non-stop transoceanic flight to South America. Named for the partial webbing between its toes. Distinguishing it from the very similar Western Sandpiper is a classic challenge for birders.
Habitat
Arctic tundra in summer; mudflats and shores during migration
Diet
Amphipods, marine worms, and small invertebrates
How common
Common
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