Semipalmated Sandpiper
Semipalmated SandpiperSemipalmated SandpiperSemipalmated SandpiperSemipalmated Sandpiper

Semipalmated Sandpiper

Calidris pusilla

Silhouette: Edwin Price · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
at Cape Breton Highlands National Park
22 Verified sightings at Cape Breton Highlands National Park From 2019 to 2026
2,686 Verified sightings across all 45 parks From 2019 to 2026
September Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

About the Semipalmated Sandpiper

The semipalmated sandpiper (Calidris pusilla) is a very small shorebird. The genus name is from Ancient Greek kalidris or skalidris, a term used by Aristotle for some grey-coloured waterside birds. The specific pusilla is Latin for "very small".

Within the genus Calidris, the semipalmated sandpiper is most closely related to the western sandpiper (Calidris mauri). It was formerly sometimes separated with some other stints in either Ereunetes or Erolia, but these placements would leave the rest of Calidris a paraphyletic group.

It is a small sandpiper, 15–18 centimetres (6–7 inches) long and weighing around 18–51.5 grams (0.63–1.82 ounces). Wingspan ranges from 13.8 to 14.6 in (35 to 37 cm). Adults have black legs and a short, stout, straight dark bill. The body is dark grey-brown on top and white underneath. The head and neck are tinged light grey-brown. This bird can be difficult to distinguish from other similar tiny shorebirds, in particular the western sandpiper; these are known collectively as "peeps" or "stints".

Their breeding habitat is the southern tundra in Canada and Alaska near water. They nest on the ground. The male makes several... Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Cape Breton Highlands National Park

Purple Sandpiper
LC

Purple Sandpiper

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Calidris maritima

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Least Sandpiper
NT

Least Sandpiper

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Calidris minutilla

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Sanderling
LC

Sanderling

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Calidris alba

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Pectoral Sandpiper
LC

Pectoral Sandpiper

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Calidris melanotos

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data
White-rumped Sandpiper
VU

White-rumped Sandpiper

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Calidris fuscicollis

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data
Red Knot
NT

Red Knot

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Calidris canutus

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data
Spotted Sandpiper
LC

Spotted Sandpiper

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Actitis macularius

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Greater Yellowlegs
NT

Greater Yellowlegs

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Tringa melanoleuca

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Ruddy Turnstone
NT

Ruddy Turnstone

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Arenaria interpres

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Lesser Yellowlegs
VU

Lesser Yellowlegs

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Tringa flavipes

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Solitary Sandpiper
LC

Solitary Sandpiper

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Tringa solitaria

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
American Woodcock
LC

American Woodcock

☀️🌙 Day & Night Bird

Scolopax minor

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Global Distribution

Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Paracas National Reserve 🇵🇪 Peru
~30%
2 Isla del Coco National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~20%
3 Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
~10%
4 Jaragua National Park 🇩🇴 Dominican Republic
~10%
5 Celestún Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
~10%
6 Gros Morne National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
~10%
7 Caroni Swamp 🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago
<5%
8 Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
<5%
9 Point Pelee National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
<5%
10 Machalilla National Park 🇪🇨 Ecuador
<5%
11 Wrangell-St. Elias National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
12 Palo Verde National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
13 Cape Breton Highlands National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
<5%
14 Ciénaga de Zapata 🇨🇺 Cuba
<5%
15 Acadia National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
16 Ostional Wildlife Refuge 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
17 Las Baulas Marine National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
18 Galápagos Islands 🇪🇨 Ecuador
<5%
19 Tortuguero National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
20 Everglades National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
21 La Amistad International Park (Panama) 🇵🇦 Panama
<5%
22 Santa Rosa National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
23 Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
24 Cahuita National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
25 Shenandoah National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
26 Cabo Blanco Absolute Nature Reserve 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
27 Marino Ballena National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
28 Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
<5%
29 Bastimentos Island National Marine Park 🇵🇦 Panama
<5%
30 Piedras Blancas National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
31 Corcovado National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
32 Big Cypress National Preserve 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
33 Isle Royale National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
34 Coiba National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
Insufficient data
35 Wood Buffalo National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
Insufficient data
36 Katmai National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
37 Los Haitises National Park 🇩🇴 Dominican Republic
Insufficient data
38 Henri Pittier National Park 🇻🇪 Venezuela
Insufficient data
39 Amacayacu National Natural Park 🇨🇴 Colombia
Insufficient data
40 Carara National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
41 Manuel Antonio National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
42 Parque Natural Metropolitano 🇵🇦 Panama
Insufficient data
43 Darién National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
Insufficient data
44 Denali National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
45 Soberanía National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Semipalmated Sandpiper in Cape Breton Highlands National Park?

Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Semipalmated Sandpiper sighting in Cape Breton Highlands National Park, based on 22 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Semipalmated Sandpiper in Cape Breton Highlands National Park?

September has the highest sighting rate for Semipalmated Sandpiper in Cape Breton Highlands National Park in our monthly data.

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