Common Sandpipers, Common Sandpiper Pictures, Common Sandpiper Facts

Sandpipers are most often seen poking in the sand for insects. Unlike most birds, they are quite agile on the ground, and rather awkward in flight.

Photograph courtesy Lee Karney/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Map

Common Sandpiper Range

Audio

Fast Facts

Type:: Bird
Diet:: Carnivore
Size:: 7.5 to 8.25 in (19 to 21 cm)
Weight:: 1.5 to 2.5 oz (40 to 70 g)
Size relative to a tea cup:

Sandpipers are familiar birds that are often seen running near the water's edge on beaches and tidal mud flats. The common sandpiper has a brown upper body and a white underside. When at rest its wingtips reach halfway back to its tail. The bird is a European and Asian species, but is closely related to the similar-looking spotted sandpiper of the Americas.

The common sandpiper is a migrator, but it frequents similar habitats year-round. When in upland areas, sandpipers live along river, ponds, or lakes.

Common sandpipers are small to medium sized birds, but they have relatively long legs that they put to good use. When seen running in groups the birds appear to display a remarkable coordination of movement. Sandpipers are ground feeders that dine on crustaceans, insects, worms, and other coastal creatures. They retrieve them by meticulously pecking and probing with their short bills.

In flight, common sandpipers have a stiff-winged style and typically stay close to the water or ground. When airborne they tend to be vocal animals. They sound off with a distinctive three-note, piping-like cry—often represented as "twee-wee-wee."

Bird Videos

Other Seabirds

Bird Features

Atlantic Puffin

Get to know this coastal bird with the colorful beak. Learn more about the amazing “sea parrot.”
What's That Bird?

Identify your backyard visitors in a flash! Just answer four simple questions to search our database of 150 backyard birds common to Canada and the U.S.
Pelican

Explore the pelican’s prodigious pouch. Find out how these famous fishers bring home the catch of the day.
Bird Pictures

Get right up close to 12 colorful new bird galleries, featuring photos from My Shot members and classic art from the NG archives.

Please select a test to run

On Nat Geo WILD

TV Schedule »

Animal News

Animals

The Innovators Project

Alan Guth: Waiting for the Big Bang

Three decades ago, the innovative physicist had a eureka moment that explained the universe.

See more innovators »

Special Ad Section

From the Magazine

Gannets Pictures

Champion divers but clumsy landers, doting parents but hostile neighbors—northern gannets abound in contradictions.
Estonia's Ural Owls

Photographer Sven Začek provides an intimate view of this large raptor.