Sandpipers · Shorebirds
Buff-breasted Sandpiper
Copied!
Calidris subruficollis
Copied!
How to recognize it
-
Sandy upperparts, pale face and underparts
-
Dark eyes, dark bill, yellow-orange legs
-
Quick runner, walks with legs held high
-
On migration uses short grass, fields, airfields
About the species
The Buff-breasted Sandpiper has a quiet, understated look, with sandy plumage and a darker back. When it walks, it lifts its legs high, and in flight it usually stays low over the ground.
It feeds by moving quickly from place to place, mainly picking up insects. When disturbed, it often freezes in place, and on migration it can seem fairly tame around people.
It breeds in grassy tundra in northern North America and spends the winter far to the south, mainly in South America. On migration, it may turn up in ploughed fields, on airfields, and on golf courses.
Where to find
-
On short-grass airfield edges and open sports fields — hopping in quick bursts, then freezing to pick insects off the ground.
-
Across fresh-ploughed patches, vacant lots, and flat lawns — especially where the sandier ground stays bare and open.
-
On city outskirts after rain — feeding low in the grass, with a tame, unhurried look.
-
In wide treeless places with little cover — most noticeable on migration, when small flocks move close to the ground and pause often.
You might also see
Sources
- eBird — Calidris subruficollis Sightings map and full description on eBird
- Wikipedia — Buff-breasted sandpiper Encyclopedia article