adult in nonbreeding plumage (California, USA; 2006-11-19)


Least Sandpiper
Calidris manutilla

Native Range: North America

Notes: a small, abundant brown-toned sandpiper told from Western Sandpiper by brownish (not grayish) plumage, pale-yellow (rather than black) legs, and preference for slightly higher edges of mud flats frequented by both of these abundant species.


frontal view (California, USA; 2006-09-10)

note the light-yellow legs (California, USA; 2006-12-24)

juvenile on left, told by more patterned dorsal (California, USA; 2006-09-03)

nonbreeding adult (California, USA; 2006-09-24)
flock in flight; white stripe along wing (California, USA; 2006-03-26) juvenile; caution, muddy legs can look black (California, USA; 2006-09-10)
nonbreeding plumage (California, USA; 2006-12-24) nonbreeding plumage (California, USA; 2006-11-19)