Semipalmated Sandpiper (Calidris Pusilla)
By Niyati Acharya

Semipalmated Sandpipers measure 3–15 cm, with black, long bill and legs, and a short neck. Their bill droops slightly at the tip. Their backs are grey-brown and their breasts are lightly marked and the webbing between their toes is visible at close range.

Three Semipalmated Sandpiper populations breed in northern Canada and in Alaska.

During the spring migration, these populations fly across northeastern North America, to their Arctic breeding grounds.  During fall migration, eastern population flocks undertake nonstop flights up to 2,500 miles, from southeastern Canada and northeastern United States to northern South America.

During the breeding season, Semipalmated Sandpipers eat insects, snails and seeds.  When migrating, they eat a variety of invertebrates to build up the energy reserves.

The Bay of Fundy, Canada is a critical staging area for Semipalmated Sandpipers during post-breeding migration.  Recent population declines and changes in diet and migratory timing in the area prompted a re-examination of staging ecology, including length of stay, which is used in calculating migratory population estimates.  Research suggested that the Semipalmated Sandpipers in the Bay of Fundy do not operate on a time-selected migration schedule and instead wait for favorable weather conditions to depart.

Data that Manomet scientists recovered from a Semipalmated Sandpiper on sub-Arctic Coasts Island revealed that the birds flew over 10,000 miles in one year. This included a six day, 3,300-mile nonstop flight across the Atlantic Ocean.  According to Manomet Shorebird Recovery Program Director, Stephen Brown, understanding the migratory journey of each of these birds helps us better understand the population trends and wintering habits of this species so that we can help its populations recover.

Sources include: WHSRN, Frontiers.org & Manomet Conservation Sciences

Photo credit:  FWS.gov