Semipalmated Sandpiper

Calidris pusilla

Silhouette: Edwin Price · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered

KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
PhylumChordata (Chordates)
ClassAves (Birds)
OrderCharadriiformes (Shorebirds and Allies)
FamilyScolopacidae (Sandpipers and Allies)
GenusCalidris (Calidris Sandpipers)
SpeciesCalidris pusilla (Semipalmated Sandpiper)

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

at Isle Royale National Park

2 Verified sightings at Isle Royale National Park From 2019 to 2026

2,686 Verified sightings across all 45 parks From 2019 to 2026

☀️ 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 Isle Royale National Park

Calidris himantopus

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Calidris bairdii

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Calidris subruficollis

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Calidris minutilla

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Calidris alpina

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Actitis macularius

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Gallinago delicata

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Tringa melanoleuca

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Tringa solitaria

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Scolopax minor

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Tringa flavipes

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Numenius phaeopus

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

See all 12 relatives Show fewer

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

← Back to Isle Royale National Park

Semipalmated Sandpiper

About the Semipalmated Sandpiper

Recent sightings of Semipalmated Sandpiper in Isle Royale National Park

Closest Relatives at Isle Royale National Park

Stilt Sandpiper

Baird's Sandpiper

Buff-breasted Sandpiper

Least Sandpiper

Dunlin

Spotted Sandpiper

Wilson's Snipe

Greater Yellowlegs

Solitary Sandpiper

American Woodcock

Lesser Yellowlegs

Whimbrel

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found