Least Sandpiper
Least SandpiperLeast SandpiperLeast SandpiperLeast Sandpiper

Least Sandpiper

Calidris minutilla

Silhouette: Edwin Price · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
at Shenandoah National Park
316 Verified sightings at Shenandoah National Park From 2019 to 2026
9,850 Verified sightings across all 70 parks From 2019 to 2026
August Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ 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 Shenandoah National Park

Semipalmated Sandpiper
NT

Semipalmated Sandpiper

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Calidris pusilla

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Pectoral Sandpiper
LC

Pectoral Sandpiper

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Calidris melanotos

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Sanderling
LC

Sanderling

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Calidris alba

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Dunlin
NT

Dunlin

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Calidris alpina

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Stilt Sandpiper
NT

Stilt Sandpiper

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Calidris himantopus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
White-rumped Sandpiper
VU

White-rumped Sandpiper

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Calidris fuscicollis

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Baird's Sandpiper
LC

Baird's Sandpiper

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Calidris bairdii

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Buff-breasted Sandpiper

Buff-breasted Sandpiper

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Calidris subruficollis

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Western Sandpiper
LC

Western Sandpiper

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Calidris mauri

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Spotted Sandpiper
LC

Spotted Sandpiper

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Actitis macularius

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Hudsonian Whimbrel

Hudsonian Whimbrel

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Numenius hudsonicus

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data
Willet
LC

Willet

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Tringa semipalmata

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

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

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Least Sandpiper in Shenandoah National Park?

Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Least Sandpiper sighting in Shenandoah National Park, based on 316 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Least Sandpiper in Shenandoah National Park?

August has the highest sighting rate for Least Sandpiper in Shenandoah National Park in our monthly data.

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