Western Sandpiper
Western SandpiperWestern SandpiperWestern SandpiperWestern Sandpiper

Western Sandpiper

Calidris mauri

Silhouette: Edwin Price · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
at Shenandoah National Park
8 Verified sightings at Shenandoah National Park From 2019 to 2026
2,156 Verified sightings across all 45 parks From 2019 to 2026
August Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ 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 Shenandoah National Park

Least Sandpiper
NT

Least Sandpiper

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Calidris minutilla

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
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
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 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

Quick answers

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

Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Western Sandpiper sighting in Shenandoah National Park, based on 8 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.

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

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

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