Spotted Sandpiper
Actitis macularius
Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of North America.
Found across 20 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius) is a member of the Scolopacidae family found in North America. Adults weigh 40.4 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Charadriiformes
- Family Scolopacidae Sandpipers, Snipes
- Genus Actitis
- Species macularius
Where it lives
Widespread, low Arctic to temperate inland waterbody margins of Nearctic: Aleutian Is., Alaska mainland except North Slope, Canada (except far northern and Arctic Arch.) to Newfoundland, south to southwestern, east-central USA
Quick facts
- Weight
- 40.4 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Scolopacidae
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Spotted Sandpiper hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Spotted Sandpiper is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius) is a species of bird in the Scolopacidae family, part of the order Charadriiformes. It occurs naturally across North America. Its distribution covers NA widespread, low Arctic to temperate inland waterbody margins of Nearctic: Aleutian Is., Alaska mainland except North Slope, Canada (except far n and Arctic Arch.) to Newfoundland, s to sw, ec USA.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 40.4 g, with a wing length of about 10 cm and a tail of around 5.3 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 13.6 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Spotted Sandpiper?
The Spotted Sandpiper is a small bird that weighs around 40.4 g.
Where does the Spotted Sandpiper live?
The Spotted Sandpiper is found across North America with a range covering NA widespread, low Arctic to temperate inland waterbody margins of Nearctic: Aleutian Is., Alaska mainland except North Slope, Canada (except far n and Arctic Arch.) to Newfoundland, s to sw, ec USA, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Spotted Sandpiper belong to?
The Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius) belongs to the Scolopacidae family, in the order Charadriiformes.
What does the Spotted Sandpiper eat?
The Spotted Sandpiper hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Spotted Sandpiper migrate?
The Spotted Sandpiper is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Spotted Sandpiper 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 Spotted Sandpiper make?
1 real field recording of the Spotted Sandpiper — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Spotted Sandpiper's range?
The Spotted Sandpiper has a mapped global range of about 13.6 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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