Western Sandpiper

The Western Sandpiper, also known as Calidris mauri, is a small migratory bird that belongs to the Scolopacidae family. It is a common shorebird found near the Pacific coast of North America and breeds in Alaska and Siberia. In this blog post, we will discuss some interesting facts about this fascinating bird.

Basic Description

The Western Sandpiper measures up to 6.5 inches long with a wingspan of approximately 14 inches. These birds have slender bodies with long legs and bills, which they use for probing into mud or sand for food. Their feather colors vary from brownish-gray on their backs to white undersides with black spots on their breasts and sides.

Where To Find This Bird

Western Sandpipers can be found along the Pacific coast during their breeding season (May-August) in northern regions such as Alaska and Siberia. During migration months (April-May & August-September), these birds are commonly spotted along coastal areas in California, Oregon, Washington State, Mexico’s Baja Peninsula all through South America.

Habitat

These shorebirds prefer wet habitats like marshes or estuaries where they can feed on invertebrates like crustaceans or mollusks buried deep within sediments at high tide marks.

Food

Western Sandpipers are carnivorous and primarily feed on insects such as dipteran larvae or grasshoppers when inland but mainly eat marine worms while by the coasts. They hunt by sight picking out prey from shallow water pools created by receding waves

Cool Facts

One interesting fact about Western Sandpipers is that they have one of the longest migrations among any bird species – traveling over 17 thousand miles annually! Another fascinating data point: these birds have the largest known flock size, with over 400,000 birds recorded at a single location. Western Sandpipers are incredibly social birds and migrate in large flocks to protect themselves from predators.

In conclusion, the Western Sandpiper may be small in size but is mighty when it comes to traveling and feeding! These shorebirds have interesting behaviors that make them stand out among other bird species. If you live near coastal areas where they can be found during migration seasons, keep an eye out for these remarkable birds on your next beach walk.