Photo: Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Stilt Sandpiper
Calidris himantopus
Stilt Sandpiper (Calidris himantopus) — 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 Stilt Sandpiper (Calidris himantopus) is a member of the Scolopacidae family found in North America. Adults weigh 57.2 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Close to qualifying for a threatened category in the near future.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Charadriiformes
- Family Scolopacidae Sandpipers, Snipes
- Genus Calidris
- Species himantopus
Where it lives
High and low Arctic tundra to taiga edge of northern Nearctic: North Slope of Alaska and northern Canada to southern Victoria I. (north-central Canada); also locally western coasts of Hudson and James bays
Quick facts
- Weight
- 57.2 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Scolopacidae
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Stilt Sandpiper hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Stilt Sandpiper is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Stilt Sandpiper (Calidris himantopus) belongs to the Scolopacidae family of the order Charadriiformes. It is found across North America. Its distribution covers NA high and low Arctic tundra to taiga edge of n Nearctic: North Slope of Alaska and n Canada to s Victoria I. (nc Canada); also locally w coasts of Hudson and James bays.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 57.2 g, with a wing length of about 12.7 cm and a tail of around 5 cm.
The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened. That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 399,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Stilt Sandpiper?
The Stilt Sandpiper is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 57.2 g.
Where does the Stilt Sandpiper live?
The Stilt Sandpiper is found across North America with a range covering NA high and low Arctic tundra to taiga edge of n Nearctic: North Slope of Alaska and n Canada to s Victoria I. (nc Canada); also locally w coasts of Hudson and James bays, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Stilt Sandpiper belong to?
The Stilt Sandpiper (Calidris himantopus) belongs to the Scolopacidae family, in the order Charadriiformes.
What does the Stilt Sandpiper eat?
The Stilt Sandpiper hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Stilt Sandpiper migrate?
The Stilt Sandpiper is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Stilt Sandpiper endangered?
The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.
What sound does the Stilt Sandpiper make?
1 real field recording of the Stilt Sandpiper — 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 Stilt Sandpiper's range?
The Stilt Sandpiper has a mapped global range of about 399,000 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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