Photo: Tim Bowman, USFWS / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)

Vulnerable

Shorebirds

White-rumped Sandpiper

Calidris fuscicollis

White-rumped Sandpiper (Calidris fuscicollis) — 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 Victoria Birds of Alberta Birds of British Columbia Birds of Manitoba Birds of New Brunswick Birds of Newfoundland and Labrador Birds of Nova Scotia Birds of Northwest Territories Birds of Nunavut

By family

Sandpipers & Allies of New South Wales Sandpipers & Allies of Victoria Sandpipers & Allies of Alberta Sandpipers & Allies of British Columbia Sandpipers & Allies of Manitoba Sandpipers & Allies of New Brunswick Sandpipers & Allies of Newfoundland and Labrador Sandpipers & Allies of Nova Scotia Sandpipers & Allies of Northwest Territories Sandpipers & Allies of Nunavut

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The White-rumped Sandpiper (Calidris fuscicollis) is a member of the Scolopacidae family found in North America. Adults weigh 43 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Vulnerable.

Conservation status

IUCN Red List

VU Vulnerable

Facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.

Where it fits

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

Where it lives

High to low Arctic wet tundra of far northern Nearctic: North Slope Alaska, coastal northern Canada to northwestern Hudson Bay, and Banks to Devon and Baffin is. (northeastern Canada)

North America

Quick facts

Weight: 43 g
Diet: Aquatic hunters
Family: Scolopacidae
Order: Charadriiformes
Habitat: Wetland, lake & coast

How to identify

Similar birds

Least Concern

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The White-rumped Sandpiper hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.

Behaviour

A bird of wetlands, it forages mainly on the ground.

Migration

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

The White-rumped Sandpiper (Calidris fuscicollis) is a species of bird in the Scolopacidae family, part of the order Charadriiformes. It occurs naturally across North America. Its distribution covers NA high to low Arctic wet tundra of far n Nearctic: North Slope Alaska, coastal n Canada to nw Hudson Bay, and Banks to Devon and Baffin is. (ne Canada).

It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 43 g, with a wing length of about 11.8 cm and a tail of around 4.8 cm.

It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.

The species has a mapped global range of roughly 1.4 million km².

Songs & calls

White-rumped Sandpiper — Call, flight call

Recorded by JAYRSON ARAUJO DE OLIVEIRA Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Frequently asked questions

How big is the White-rumped Sandpiper?

The White-rumped Sandpiper is a small bird that weighs around 43 g.

Where does the White-rumped Sandpiper live?

The White-rumped Sandpiper is found across North America with a range covering NA high to low Arctic wet tundra of far n Nearctic: North Slope Alaska, coastal n Canada to nw Hudson Bay, and Banks to Devon and Baffin is. (ne Canada), where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.

What family does the White-rumped Sandpiper belong to?

The White-rumped Sandpiper (Calidris fuscicollis) belongs to the Scolopacidae family, in the order Charadriiformes.

What does the White-rumped Sandpiper eat?

The White-rumped Sandpiper hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.

Does the White-rumped Sandpiper migrate?

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

Is the White-rumped Sandpiper endangered?

It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.

What sound does the White-rumped Sandpiper make?

1 real field recording of the White-rumped 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 White-rumped Sandpiper's range?

The White-rumped Sandpiper has a mapped global range of about 1.4 million km².