Fauna Flora Photography

Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularius

Spotted Sandpiper is a small shorebird found along fresh water. It nests on the ground. Interestingly, a female mates with different males during a breeding season and she leaves egg incubation to them.

Specs

Length18-20cm
Weight28-43g
Wingspan30-33cm

Common Names

GermanDrosseluferläufer
EnglishSpotted Sandpiper
FrenchChevalier grivelé
SpanishAndarríos maculado

Taxonomy

OrderCharadriiformes
FamilyScolopacidae
SpeciesActitis macularius

How to Identify

Although the different sandpipers’ species are difficult to identify, for the Spotted Sandpiper, I look if the whole breast and belly have grey or brownish spots [breeding season]. The beak is yellowish with a dark tip.

Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius) - Tadoussac - 2018-05-22
Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius) - Technopark - 2017-06-24

Where and When to Spot

I only saw a Spotted Sandpiper once, foraging along a small pond in between Technopark and Airport in Montreal. Unfortunately, these ponds have been dried out by the landlord.


Last updated on 2024-03-14. Written and regularly updated by Karl-Heinz Müller, Dipl. Natw. ETH, Biology. With 10 years of experience in wildlife photography, Karl-Heinz shares first-hand, on-site collected observations, photos and videos from his frequent visits to parks in the Montreal area.