Photo: Ken Billington / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Least Concern

Shorebirds

Sanderling

Calidris alba

Sanderling (Calidris alba) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of North America.

Field guide · LocationsWhere to see this bird

Found across 20 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.

Regional checklists

Birds of New South Wales Birds of Northern Territory Birds of Queensland Birds of South Australia Birds of Tasmania Birds of Victoria Birds of Western Australia Birds of Alberta Birds of British Columbia Birds of Manitoba

By family

Sandpipers & Allies of New South Wales Sandpipers & Allies of Northern Territory Sandpipers & Allies of Queensland Sandpipers & Allies of South Australia Sandpipers & Allies of Tasmania Sandpipers & Allies of Victoria Sandpipers & Allies of Western Australia Sandpipers & Allies of Alberta Sandpipers & Allies of British Columbia Sandpipers & Allies of Manitoba

See what's near you right now

The Sanderling (Calidris alba) is a member of the Scolopacidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia and North America. Adults weigh 51.7 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.

Conservation status

IUCN Red List

LC Least Concern

Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.

Where it fits

Class Aves
Order Charadriiformes
Family Scolopacidae Sandpipers, Snipes
Genus Calidris
Species alba

Where it lives

High Arctic tundra wetlands of Holarctic: northwestern, southeastern Greenland, Svalbard (north of Norway), northern Taymyr Pen. and Severnaya Zemlya (to northern), Lena Delta and New Siberian Is. (north-central Siberia), Alaskan North Slope (rare), Canadian Arctic islands from Banks to Ellesmere and south to Southampton

Quick facts

Weight: 51.7 g
Diet: Aquatic hunters
Family: Scolopacidae
Order: Charadriiformes
Habitat: Wetland, lake & coast

How to identify

Similar birds

Vulnerable

White-rumped Sandpiper

Calidris fuscicollis

Least Concern

Purple Sandpiper

Calidris maritima

Least Concern

Common Sandpiper

Actitis hypoleucos

Least Concern

Pectoral Sandpiper

Calidris melanotos

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Sanderling hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.

Behaviour

A bird of coastal habitats, it forages mainly on the ground.

Migration

The Sanderling is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.

The Sanderling (Calidris alba) is a species of sandpipers, snipes in the family Scolopacidae, order Charadriiformes. It is found in North America, Europe & Northern Asia — high Arctic tundra wetlands of Holarctic: nw, se Greenland, Svalbard (n of Norway), n Taymyr Pen. and Severnaya Zemlya (to n), Lena Delta and New Siberian Is. (nc Siberia), Alaskan North Slope (rare), Canadian Arctic islands from Banks to Ellesmere and s to Southampton.

Songs & calls

Sanderling — Call

Recorded by Paul Kelly Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Sanderling?

The Sanderling is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 51.7 g.

Where does the Sanderling live?

The Sanderling is found across Europe & Northern Asia and North America with a range covering NA, PAL high Arctic tundra wetlands of Holarctic: nw, se Greenland, Svalbard (n of Norway), n Taymyr Pen. and Severnaya Zemlya (to n), Lena Delta and New Siberian Is. (nc Siberia), Alaskan North Slope (rare), Canadian Arctic islands from Banks to Ellesmere and s to Southampton, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.

What family does the Sanderling belong to?

The Sanderling (Calidris alba) belongs to the Scolopacidae family, in the order Charadriiformes.

What does the Sanderling eat?

The Sanderling hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.

Does the Sanderling migrate?

The Sanderling is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.

Is the Sanderling endangered?

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

What sound does the Sanderling make?

1 real field recording of the Sanderling — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.

How large is the Sanderling's range?

The Sanderling has a mapped global range of about 1.3 million km².