Spotted Sandpiper

(Actitis macularius)

Conservation Status
Spotted Sandpiper
Photo by Lynn Rubey
  IUCN Red List

LC - Least Concern

 
  NatureServe

N5B, N5N - Secure Breeding and Nonbreeding

SNRB - Unranked Breeding

 
  Minnesota

not listed

 
           
 
Description
 
 

The underparts are white and are heavilly spotted with black. Juveniles have unspotted underparts.

 
     
 

Size

 
 

7 to 8 in length

15 wingspan

 
     
 

Voice

 
   
   
     
 

 

 
     
 

Similar Species

 
     
     
 
Habitat
 
 

Shores of lakes, ponds, and streams, especially rocky shores; marshes.

 
     
 
Ecology
 
 

Migration

 
 

Mid-April to mid-May and mid-August to October

 
     
 

Nesting

 
 

 

 
     
 

Food

 
 

 

 
     
 
Distribution
 
 

Occurrence

 
 

Common migrant and breeder

 
         
 

Maps

 
 

The Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union All Seasons Species Occurrence Map

 
         
 
Taxonomy
 
  Class Aves (birds)  
 

Order

Charadriiformes (shorebirds and allies)  
 

Family

Scolopacidae (sandpipers and allies)  
 

Genus

Actitis (spotted sandpipers)  
       
 

In 2004 the name was changed from Actitis macularia to Actitis macularius “to cause gender agreement of specific with generic names.”

 
       
 

Subordinate Taxa

 
 

Some authors recognize two subspecies but the differences are minimal and this is not generally accepted.

 
       
 

Synonyms

 
 

Actitis macularia

Tringa macularia

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
Visitor Photos
 
           
 

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Lynn Rubey

 
 

A breeding Spotted Sandpiper In The Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge in Lac qui Parle county.

 
    Spotted Sandpiper      
           
 

A breeding Spotted Sandpiper in flight.

 
    Spotted Sandpiper      
           
 

A breeding Spotted Sandpiper foraging for food along the rocky path in the West Pool area.

 
    Spotted Sandpiper      
           
 

A breeding Spotted Sandpiper foraging for food along the rocky path in the West Pool area.

 
    Spotted Sandpiper      
           
 
MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos
 
 

 

 
           

 

Camera

 

     
 
Slideshows
 
  Spotted Sandpiper
JMC Nature Photos
 
  Spotted Sandpiper  
  Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius)
Martin D. Parr
 
  Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius)  
  Spotted Sandpiper
Doug Scobel
 
  Spotted Sandpiper  
  Spotted Sandpiper
Cory Gregory
 
  Spotted Sandpiper  

 

slideshow

       
 
Visitor Videos
 
       
 

Share your video of this bird.

 
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Dan W. Andree

 
  HD Spotted Sandpiper (adult & a baby one)
Published on Jul 12, 2015
 
   
 
About

The Spotted Sandpiper is known to constantly teeter as it walks along. I came across this adult while out along a pond and unexpected seen one of its young just suddenly lie down in hopes not to get noticed. One other little sandpiper ran into cover out of sight. I stopped briefly to film the baby spotted sandpiper and then left the pond.

   
       
 
Other Videos
 
  Spotted Sandpiper
Woodfibrebirder
 
   
 
About

Published on Jun 17, 2013

Spotted Sandpiper - Squamish River Estuary - June 17, 2013 - Make sure you watch the video at the highest resolution by clicking on the little gear symbol in the lower right hand corner of the video and choosing 720p

   
  spotted sandpiper
banffwego
 
   
 
About

Uploaded on Jul 22, 2009

at Wabasso Lake, Jasper NP

   
  Como Lake, Coquitlam - Spotted Sandpiper
wetvideocamera
 
   
 
About

Uploaded on Oct 26, 2011

Spotted Sandpiper at Como Lake, Coquitlam, BC
( Actitis macularius ) August 17, 2005

   
  Spotted Sandpiper (Scolopacidae: Actitis macularia) Juvenile
Carl Barrentine
 
   
 
About

Uploaded on Jun 23, 2009

Photographed at the Rydell NWR, Minnesota (23 June 2009).

   
  Spotted Sandpiper (Duluth Waterfront)
Richard Hoeg
 
   
 
About

Published on Jul 8, 2016

   

 

Camcorder

 
 
Visitor Sightings
 
           
 

Report a sighting of this bird.

 
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  Deidra Wright
5/22/2022

Location: Duluth Minnesota

pretty sure that's what it was!!

 
  Lynn Rubey
5/18/2020

Location: Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge

A breeding Spotted Sandpiper foraging for food along a rocky path in the West Pool area.

Spotted Sandpiper  
  Lynn Rubey
5/15/2020

Location: Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge

A breeding Spotted Sandpiper foraging for food along a rocky path in the West Pool area.

Spotted Sandpiper  
  Lynn Rubey
5/5/2020

Location: Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge

A breeding Spotted Sandpiper In The Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge in Lac qui Parle county.

Spotted Sandpiper  
           
 
MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings
 
   

 

 

Binoculars


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