Least Sandpiper

Calidris minutilla (Vieillot, 1819) EP LEASA 5040
Family: Charadriiformes > Scolopacidae

Least Sandpiper, Brendan Doe

The world’s smallest shorebird, white in colour with distinctive greenish-coloured legs, Least Sandpiper is a less than annual visitor from North America.

The Least Sandpiper is the smallest shorebird in the world and, appropriately, unlike it close relatives, forms flocks of dozens rather than thousands.

Select a topic for more facts and statistics about the Least Sandpiper

  • Breeding
  • Winter
446 records observations recorded by BTO surveyors
446 records

BTO RECORDS

Identification

Develop your bird ID skills with our training courses

Our interactive online courses are a great way to develop your bird identification skills, whether you're new to the hobby or a competent birder looking to hone your abilities.

Browse training courses

Status and Trends

Population size and trends and patterns of distribution based on BTO surveys and atlases with data collected by BTO volunteers.

CONSERVATION STATUS

This species can be found on the following statutory and conservation listings and schedules.

POPULATION SIZE

We have no population estimates for this scarce species.

DISTRIBUTION

This species is a rare vagrant and was recorded during Bird Atlas 2007–11 as shown on the map.

Least Sandpiper breeding distribution 2008-11
Britain and Ireland Breeding Distribution 2008-2011.
More from the Atlas Mapstore.

Occupied 10-km squares in UK

SEASONALITY

Least Sandpiper is a very rare vagrant in autumn.

Weekly occurence of Least Sandpiper from BirdTrack
Weekly occurrence patterns (shaded cells) and reporting rates (vertical bars) based on BirdTrack data. Reporting rates give the likelihood of encountering the species each week.

Movement

Information about movement and migration based on online bird portals (e.g. BirdTrack), Ringing schemes and tracking studies.

RINGING RECOVERIES

View a summary of recoveries in the Online Ringing Report.

Biology

Lifecycle and body size information about Least Sandpiper, including statistics on nesting, eggs and lifespan based on BTO ringing and nest recording data.

PRODUCTIVITY & NESTING

Sample sizes are too small to report Productivity and Nesting statistics for this species.

CODES & CLASSIFICATION

For information in another language (where available) click on a linked name

Welsh: Pibydd Bychan
Catalan: territ menut canadenc
Czech: jespák drobný
Danish: Amerikansk Dværgryle
Dutch: Kleinste Strandloper
Estonian: pisirisla e. pisirüdi
Finnish: amerikansirri
French: Bécasseau minuscule
German: Wiesenstrandläufer
Hungarian: törpepartfutó
Icelandic: Mærutíta
Irish: Godadáinín Bídeach
Italian: Gambecchio americano
Latvian: mazais trulitis
Lithuanian: nykštukinis begikas
Norwegian: Pygmésnipe
Polish: biegus karlowaty
Portuguese: maçariquinho / pilrito-anão
Slovak: pobrežník najmenší
Slovenian: pritlikavi prodnik
Spanish: Correlimos menudillo
Swedish: dvärgsnäppa

Links to more information from ConservationEvidence.com

Would you like to search for another species?