Least Sandpiper

Calidris minutilla

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 minutilla (Least Sandpiper)

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

at Rocky Mountain National Park

2 Verified sightings at Rocky Mountain National Park From 2019 to 2026

9,850 Verified sightings across all 70 parks From 2019 to 2026

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

About the Least Sandpiper

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

Within the genus Calidris, the least sandpiper is most closely related to the white-rumped sandpiper (Calidris fuscicollis). This species has yellow-green legs and a short, thin, dark bill. Breeding adults are brown with dark brown streaks on top and white underneath. They have a light line above the eye and a dark crown. In winter, Least sandpipers are grey above. The juveniles are brightly patterned above with rufous colour and white mantle stripes.

This bird can be difficult to distinguish from other similar tiny shorebirds; these are known collectively as "peeps" or "stints". In particular, least sandpiper is very similar to its Asian counterpart, long-toed stint. It differs from that species in its more compact, shorter-necked appearance, shorter toes, somewhat duller colour, and stronger wingbar.

Measurements: Length: 13–15 cm (5.1–5.9 in) Wingspan: 27–28 cm (11–11 in) Weight: 19–30 g (0.67–1.06 oz) Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Rocky Mountain National Park

Calidris bairdii

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Calidris pusilla

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Actitis macularius

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Gallinago delicata

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Tringa solitaria

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Tringa semipalmata

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Tringa melanoleuca

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Phalaropus tricolor

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Phalaropus lobatus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Limosa fedoa

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Tringa flavipes

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Limnodromus scolopaceus

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	Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	~40%
2	Isla del Coco National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~30%
3	Jaragua National Park	🇩🇴 Dominican Republic	~30%
4	Celestún Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	~30%
5	El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	~20%
6	Paracas National Reserve	🇵🇪 Peru	~20%
7	Katmai National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~20%
8	Bahía de Loreto National Park	🇲🇽 Mexico	~20%
9	Wrangell-St. Elias National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~20%
10	Utría National Natural Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	~20%
11	Ciénaga de Zapata	🇨🇺 Cuba	~10%
12	Las Baulas Marine National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~10%
13	Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park	🇲🇽 Mexico	~10%
14	Galápagos Islands	🇪🇨 Ecuador	~10%
15	Cabo Pulmo National Park	🇲🇽 Mexico	~10%
16	Palo Verde National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~10%
17	Ostional Wildlife Refuge	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~10%
18	Cabo Blanco Absolute Nature Reserve	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~10%
19	Cañón del Sumidero National Park	🇲🇽 Mexico	~10%
20	Caroni Swamp	🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago	~10%
21	Machalilla National Park	🇪🇨 Ecuador	~10%
22	Everglades National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~10%
23	Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	~10%
24	Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	<5%
25	Coiba National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	<5%
26	Saguaro National Park	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
27	Gros Morne National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	<5%
28	Point Pelee National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	<5%
29	Lago de Yojoa	🇭🇳 Honduras	<5%
30	Marino Ballena National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
31	Cerro Azul Meámbar National Park	🇭🇳 Honduras	<5%
32	Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
33	Corcovado National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
34	Acadia National Park	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
35	Big Cypress National Preserve	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
36	La Amistad International Park (Panama)	🇵🇦 Panama	<5%
37	Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve	🇪🇨 Ecuador	<5%
38	Cape Breton Highlands National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	<5%
39	Los Haitises National Park	🇩🇴 Dominican Republic	<5%
40	Shenandoah National Park	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
41	Yasuní National Park	🇪🇨 Ecuador	<5%
42	Soberanía National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	<5%
43	Henri Pittier National Park	🇻🇪 Venezuela	<5%
44	Cahuita National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
45	Bastimentos Island National Marine Park	🇵🇦 Panama	<5%
46	Tortuguero National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
47	Darién National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	<5%
48	Calakmul Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	<5%
49	Carara National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
50	Manuel Antonio National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
51	Amacayacu National Natural Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	<5%
52	Joshua Tree National Park	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
53	Piedras Blancas National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
54	Denali National Park	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
55	Braulio Carrillo National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
56	Tapantí-Macizo de la Muerte National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	Insufficient data
57	Wood Buffalo National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	Insufficient data
58	Santa Rosa National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	Insufficient data
59	Isle Royale National Park	🇺🇸 United States	Insufficient data
60	Biotopo Cerro Cahuí	🇬🇹 Guatemala	Insufficient data
61	Kenai Fjords National Park	🇺🇸 United States	Insufficient data
62	Congaree National Park	🇺🇸 United States	Insufficient data
63	Tayrona National Natural Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	Insufficient data
64	Sierra de la Macarena National Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	Insufficient data
65	Parque Natural Metropolitano	🇵🇦 Panama	Insufficient data
66	Tikal National Park	🇬🇹 Guatemala	Insufficient data
67	Tambopata National Reserve	🇵🇪 Peru	Insufficient data
68	Yosemite National Park	🇺🇸 United States	Insufficient data
69	Arenal Volcano National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	Insufficient data
70	Farallones de Cali National Natural Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	Insufficient data

← Back to Rocky Mountain National Park

Least Sandpiper

About the Least Sandpiper

Recent sightings of Least Sandpiper in Rocky Mountain National Park

Closest Relatives at Rocky Mountain National Park

Baird's Sandpiper

Semipalmated Sandpiper

Spotted Sandpiper

Wilson's Snipe

Solitary Sandpiper

Willet

Greater Yellowlegs

Wilson's Phalarope

Red-necked Phalarope

Marbled Godwit

Lesser Yellowlegs

Long-billed Dowitcher

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found