Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla) 4K

The Least Sandpiper is an uncommon visitor to the Islands. Every year, a half-dozen or so are reported from various wetlands around the state. It belongs to a group of very small migrant shorebirds commonly called "peeps". In this group it is the only one with yellow legs. This characteristic might be missed if the legs are coated with mud. The upper breast is streaked with brown. The bill is thin and black with a slight downward droop at the tip. It this video it is keeping company with the larger Sanderling or Hunakai (Calidris Alba), one of the more common shorebirds to visit the islands in the fall through spring.

Audio is courtesy of Xeno-Canto, catalog #s XC203720 recorded in Alaska by Frank Lambert, XC203721 recorded in Canada by Andrew Spencer, and XC496351 recorded in California by Thomas Graves.