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Least Sandpiper

Calidris minutillaOrder: CHARADRIIFORMES Family: Sandpipers (Scolopacidae)
Codes: Common Name: LESA Scientific Name: CALMIL ITIS Taxonomic No.: 176656
Least Concern
 
Least Sandpiper
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Birdman Mel's Backyard Tips
Jelly Jar Jelly Feeder
The orange "blossum" replaces the lid of a jelly jar.
Attract Orioles with Fruit
Sliced orange secures easily to the center of the ring. Low cost.
Attract with Nectar
Hex shaped nectar feeds several Orioles. Nectar kept in fridge.
Charm and Attraction
Lovely copper umbrella keeps fruit cool and looks great.

Overview

Least Sandpiper: Small sandpiper, brown-scaled upperparts, rust-brown crown. Breast, throat are dark-spotted; belly, undertail are white. Wings have thin, white stripes visible in flight. Black line on rump extends onto tail. Legs and feet are yellow-green. Swift direct flight with rapid wing beats.


Range and Habitat

Least Sandpiper: Breeds from Alaska to Labrador and, in the east, south to Nova Scotia and, recently, Massachusetts. Spends winters from the southern U.S. to central South America and the West Indies. Frequents sandy beaches and exposed tidal flats.

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Topo Map: Sandpiper-like Body


Listen to Call

Voice Text

"dididididi", "preeep", "pree-rreeep"

Interesting Facts

 The Least Sandpiper was first described in 1819 by Louis Jean Pierre Vieillot, a French ornithologist. It is the smallest shorebird in the world.

 Although they are relatively numerous, they often occur in flocks of dozens or hundreds, rather than thousands like some other sandpipers.

 They tend to forage at the upper edge of mudflats or along drier margins of inland ponds than other related small sandpipers.

 A group of sandpipers has many collective nouns, including a "bind", "contradiction", "fling", "hill", and "time-step" of sandpipers.


Bird Term Glossary



Author

Gary Owen Dick

Artist

Imran Kahn

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Range Map for Least Sandpiper

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Family Sandpiper (Scolopacidae)_blue
Species Calidris minutilla
Length6 Inches
Wingspan11.5 Inches

Least Sandpiper

Least Sandpiper: Small sandpiper, brown-scaled upperparts, rust-brown crown. Breast, throat are dark-spotted; belly, undertail are white. Wings have thin, white stripes visible in flight. Black line on rump extends onto tail. Legs and feet are yellow-green. Swift direct flight with rapid wing beats.

● Song: "dididididi", "preeep", "pree-rreeep"

● Foraging & Feeding: Least Sandpiper: Feeds on insects, seeds, and aquatic invertebrates; also eats crustaceans, marine worms, and mollusks on the coast. Usually feeds in a communal area distant from nesting grounds; forages by gleaning and probing on mudflats and beaches.

● Breeding & nesting: Least Sandpiper: Three or four dark brown-spotted, olive pink or buff eggs are laid in a ground depression lined with grass and moss. Incubation ranges from 19 to 23 days and is carried out by both parents.

● Similar species: Least Sandpiper: Semipalmated Sandpiper is slightly larger, has grayer upperparts, and black legs and feet.

Flight Pattern

Swift direct flight with rapid wing beats.
Least Sandpiper Body Illustration
● Range & Habitat: Least Sandpiper: Breeds from Alaska to Labrador and, in the east, south to Nova Scotia and, recently, Massachusetts. Spends winters from the southern U.S. to central South America and the West Indies. Frequents sandy beaches and exposed tidal flats.
BreedingMonogamous, Colonial
Population
MigrationMigratory
Weight0.8 Ounces
Sandpiper-like BodyX
UpperpartsX
Back, rump, hindneck, wings, and crown.
BellyX
The ventral part of the bird, or the area between the flanks on each side and the crissum and breast. Flight muscles are located between the belly and the breast.
BreastX
The upper front part of a bird.
CrownX
The crown is the top part of the birds head.
RumpX
The area between the uppertail coverts and the back of the bird.
4 and 6 letter alpha codesX

The four letter common name alpha code is is derived from the first two letters of the common first name and the first two letters of common last name. The six letter species name alpha code is derived from the first three letters of the scientific name (genus) and the first three letters of the scientific name (species). See (1) below for the rules used to create the codes..

Four-letter (for English common names) and six-letter (for scientific names) species alpha codes were developed by Pyle and DeSante (2003, North American Bird-Bander 28:64-79) to reflect A.O.U. taxonomy and nomenclature (A.O.U. 1998) as modified by Supplements 42 (Auk 117:847-858, 2000) and 43 (Auk 119:897-906, 2002). The list has been updated by Pyle and DeSante to reflect changes reported by the A.O.U from 2003 through 2006.

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ITIS CodesX

The Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) was established in the mid-1990�s as a cooperative project among several federal agencies to improve and expand upon taxonomic data (known as the NODC Taxonomic Code) maintained by the National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

To find the ITIS page for a bird species go to the ITIS web site advanced search and report page at http://www.itis.gov/advanced_search.html. You can enter the TSN or the common name of the bird. It will return the ITIS page for that bird. Another way to obtain the ITIS page is to use the Google search engine. Enter the string ITIS followed by the taxonomic ID, for example "ITIS 178041" will return the page for the Allen's Hummingbird.

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Parts of a Standing birdX
Head Feathers and MarkingsX
Parts of a Flying birdX