Rock Sandpiper
Calidris ptilocnemis
Silhouette: Edwin Price · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderCharadriiformes (Shorebirds and Allies)
- FamilyScolopacidae (Sandpipers and Allies)
- GenusCalidris (Calidris Sandpipers)
- SpeciesCalidris ptilocnemis (Rock Sandpiper)
About the Rock Sandpiper
The rock sandpiper (Calidris ptilocnemis) is a small shorebird in the sandpiper family Scolopacidae. This is a hardy sandpiper that breeds in the arctic and subarctic regions of Alaska and the Chukotka and Kamchatka Peninsulas. It is closely related to the purple sandpiper that breeds in arctic regions of northeast Canada and the northwest Palearctic, and in the past was often considered conspecific with it.
The rock sandpiper was formally described in 1873 by the American ornithologist Elliott Coues and given the binomial name Tringa ptilocnemis. It was formerly sometimes placed in the genus Erolia, but is now placed with 23 other sandpipers in the genus Calidris that was introduced in 1804 by the German naturalist Blasius Merrem. The genus name is from Ancient Greek kalidris or skalidris, a term used by Aristotle for some grey-coloured waterside birds. The specific epithet ptilocnemis combines the Ancient Greek ptilon meaning "feather" with knēmē meaning "leg". Within the genus Calidris the rock sandpiper is sister to the purple sandpiper (Calidris maritima), and next most closely related to the sanderling (Calidris alba) and dunlin (Calidris alpina).
Four subspecies... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Rock Sandpiper in Redwood National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Redwood National Park
Least Sandpiper
Calidris minutilla
Western Sandpiper
Calidris mauri
Dunlin
Calidris alpina
Sanderling
Calidris alba
Baird's Sandpiper
Calidris bairdii
Pectoral Sandpiper
Calidris melanotos
Surfbird
Calidris virgata
Red Knot
Calidris canutus
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Calidris pusilla
Buff-breasted Sandpiper
Calidris subruficollis
Hudsonian Whimbrel
Numenius hudsonicus
Spotted Sandpiper
Actitis macularius
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Katmai National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | Redwood National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 3 | Great Bear Rainforest | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 4 | Pacific Rim National Park Reserve | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 5 | Olympic National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 6 | Wrangell-St. Elias National Park | 🇺🇸 United States |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Rock Sandpiper in Redwood National Park?
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Rock Sandpiper sighting in Redwood National Park, based on 28 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Rock Sandpiper in Redwood National Park?
November has the highest sighting rate for Rock Sandpiper in Redwood National Park in our monthly data.