Western Sandpiper

Calidris mauri

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 mauri (Western Sandpiper)

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

at Kenai Fjords National Park

3 Verified sightings at Kenai Fjords National Park From 2019 to 2026

2,156 Verified sightings across all 45 parks From 2019 to 2026

☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

About the Western Sandpiper

The western sandpiper (Calidris mauri) is a small migratory shorebird. The genus name is from Ancient Greek kalidris or skalidris, a term used by Aristotle for some grey-coloured waterside birds. The specific mauri commemorates Italian botanist Ernesto Mauri (1791–1836).

This is one of the most abundant shorebird species in North America, with a population in the millions. Within the genus Calidris the western sandpiper is most closely related to the semipalmated sandpiper (Calidris pusilla).

Adults have dark legs and a short, thin, dark bill, thinner at the tip. The body is brown on top and white underneath. They are reddish-brown on the crown. This bird can be difficult to distinguish from other similar tiny shorebirds, especially the semipalmated sandpiper. This is particularly the case in winter plumage, when both species are plain grey. The western sandpiper acquires winter plumage much earlier in the autumn than the semipalmated sandpiper.

Measurements: Length: 14–17 cm (5.5–6.7 in) Wingspan: 35–37 cm (14–15 in) Weight: 22–35 g (0.78–1.23 oz) Their breeding habitat is tundra in eastern Siberia and Alaska. They nest on the ground usually under... Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Kenai Fjords National Park

Calidris virgata

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Calidris minutilla

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Phalaropus lobatus

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Tringa solitaria

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Numenius hudsonicus

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Gallinago delicata

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Actitis macularius

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Tringa incana

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Phalaropus fulicarius

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Numenius phaeopus

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Arenaria melanocephala

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Tringa melanoleuca

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	El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	~30%
2	Isla del Coco National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~20%
3	Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	~20%
4	Paracas National Reserve	🇵🇪 Peru	~20%
5	Wrangell-St. Elias National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~10%
6	Celestún Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	~10%
7	Bahía de Loreto National Park	🇲🇽 Mexico	~10%
8	Jaragua National Park	🇩🇴 Dominican Republic	~10%
9	Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park	🇲🇽 Mexico	<5%
10	Katmai National Park	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
11	Las Baulas Marine National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
12	Palo Verde National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
13	Everglades National Park	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
14	Ciénaga de Zapata	🇨🇺 Cuba	<5%
15	Cabo Blanco Absolute Nature Reserve	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
16	Marino Ballena National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
17	Piedras Blancas National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
18	La Amistad International Park (Panama)	🇵🇦 Panama	<5%
19	Galápagos Islands	🇪🇨 Ecuador	<5%
20	Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	<5%
21	Machalilla National Park	🇪🇨 Ecuador	<5%
22	Bastimentos Island National Marine Park	🇵🇦 Panama	<5%
23	Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	<5%
24	Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
25	Big Cypress National Preserve	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
26	Tortuguero National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
27	Joshua Tree National Park	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
28	Darién National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	<5%
29	Corcovado National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
30	Saguaro National Park	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
31	Carara National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
32	Wadden Sea National Park	🇩🇪 Germany	<5%
33	Shenandoah National Park	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
34	Cabo Pulmo National Park	🇲🇽 Mexico	Insufficient data
35	Coiba National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	Insufficient data
36	Cahuita National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	Insufficient data
37	Caroni Swamp	🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago	Insufficient data
38	Ostional Wildlife Refuge	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	Insufficient data
39	Kenai Fjords National Park	🇺🇸 United States	Insufficient data
40	Santa Rosa National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	Insufficient data
41	Manuel Antonio National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	Insufficient data
42	Parque Natural Metropolitano	🇵🇦 Panama	Insufficient data
43	Soberanía National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	Insufficient data
44	Point Pelee National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	Insufficient data
45	Yosemite National Park	🇺🇸 United States	Insufficient data

← Back to Kenai Fjords National Park

Western Sandpiper

About the Western Sandpiper

Recent sightings of Western Sandpiper in Kenai Fjords National Park

Closest Relatives at Kenai Fjords National Park

Surfbird

Least Sandpiper

Red-necked Phalarope

Solitary Sandpiper

Hudsonian Whimbrel

Wilson's Snipe

Spotted Sandpiper

Wandering Tattler

Red Phalarope

Whimbrel

Black Turnstone

Greater Yellowlegs

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found