Overview

Solitary Sandpiper: Medium sandpiper, pale-spotted, dark brown back and rump, white underparts with streaks on neck and sides. Head is dark, eye-ring is bold white. Tail is black with conspicuous black-and-white barred edges. Bill, legs, and feet are olive-green. Direct flight is light and bouyant.

Range and Habitat

Solitary Sandpiper: Breeds in wooded northland of Canada and Alaska. Spends winters from the southern states and the West Indies south to central South America. Preferred habitats include swampy margins of brackish pools, freshwater ponds, and woodland streams.

Breeding and Nesting

Solitary Sandpiper: Four to five olive eggs marked with brown are laid in an abandoned Rusty Blackbird, Bohemian Waxwing, Gray Jay, or American Robin nest; occasionally builds own cup-shaped nest. Incubation ranges from 23 to 24 days and is carried out by the female. Young fly at 17 to 20 days.

Foraging and Feeding

Solitary Sandpiper: Feeds mostly on terrestrial and aquatic insects, spiders, frogs, worms, and crustaceans. Forages in shallow water with its pliable, sensitive-tipped bill; wades to breast level and actively picks and jabs at prey.

Vocalization

Solitary Sandpiper: Gives a very hard "plik" when alarmed on the ground; utters a rising "peet-weet" in flight. Display song is a series of short phrases similar to flight call.

Similar Species

Solitary Sandpiper: Lesser Yellowlegs has longer, yellow legs and white rump. Stilt Sandpiper has white rump.