Common Sandpiper
Common Sandpiper
Actitis hypoleucos
At a Glance
The name 'Common Sandpiper' is appropriate only in the Old World; in North America this is a rare bird, occurring in small numbers in western Alaska during migration. This is the Eurasian counterpart to our Spotted Sandpiper, with a similar teetering action as it walks along the edges of streams and ponds.
All bird guide text and rangemaps adapted from Lives of North American Birds by Kenn Kaufman© 1996, used by permission of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Category
Sandpiper-like Birds, Sandpipers
IUCN Status
Least Concern
Habitat
Lakes, Ponds, and Rivers, Saltwater Wetlands, Tundra and Boreal Habitats
Region
Alaska and The North
Behavior
Flap/Glide, Rapid Wingbeats, Running
Range & Identification
Description
Sexes similar — Length: 7-8 in (18-20 cm); wingspan: 12-13 in (30-33 cm); weight: 1.1-1.8 oz (30-50 g). The Common Sandpiper is very similar to a Spotted Sandpiper in winter plumage (with no spots). It has a longer tail and tends to look richer brown above. Similar birds seen away from western Alaska are more likely to be Spotted Sandpipers.
Size
About the size of a Robin, About the size of a Sparrow
Color
Brown, Gray, White, Yellow
Wing Shape
Pointed, Short, Tapered
Tail Shape
Rounded, Short, Square-tipped, Wedge-shaped
Songs and Calls
A high-pitched, piping twee-wee-wee.
Call Pattern
Rising, Undulating
Call Type
High, Whistle
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