Purple Sandpiper Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesPurple Sandpiper
Nonbreeding adult
Stocky, short-legged sandpiper with a dropping bill that is yellow at the base. Slate gray above with grayish spotting on the breast.
© Ryan Schain / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, December 04, 2020Nonbreeding adult
Its short legs and round belly often make it look like it's squatting. Purplish sheen only visible at close range.
© Kojo Baidoo / Macaulay LibraryNew Jersey, January 18, 2021Nonbreeding adult
Forages in the rocky intertidal zone, quickly picking up aquatic invertebrates at low tides before the rocks get covered as the tide comes back in.
© Tom Johnson / Macaulay LibraryNew JerseyNot all videos have sound
Breeding adult
Breeding birds are heavily spotted below with whitish edging on the wings. The bill is yellowish at the base and slightly curved.
© Christian Briand / Macaulay LibraryQuebec, April 18, 2020Nonbreeding adult
Plump shorebird with short, yellow legs found foraging along rocky shorelines.
© Patrick Maurice / Macaulay LibraryFlorida, December 19, 2020Similar SpeciesRock Sandpiper
Breeding
Rock Sandpipers are most similar to Purple Sandpipers, but their ranges do not overlap.
© Brian Sullivan / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, April 20, 2008Similar SpeciesRock Sandpiper
Nonbreeding
Rock Sandpipers are most similar to Purple Sandpipers, but their ranges do not overlap.
© Caroline Lambert / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, January 16, 2015Similar SpeciesRed Knot
Breeding adult
Red Knots are larger than Purple Sandpiper with longer legs. Breeding Red Knots have a red breast while Purple Sandpipers have a spotted black breast.
© Ian Davies / Macaulay LibraryAlaska, May 25, 2013Similar SpeciesRed Knot
Nonbreeding
Red Knots are larger than Purple Sandpiper with longer legs. Nonbreeding Red Knots have a paler chest and face than the dark gray head and chest of Purple Sandpipers.
© David Clark / Macaulay LibraryVirginia, October 26, 2008Similar SpeciesWandering Tattler
Nonbreeding
Wandering Tattlers are larger than Purple Sandpipers with longer, brighter yellow legs.
© Brian Sullivan / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, September 26, 2014Similar SpeciesSurfbird
Nonbreeding adult
Surfbirds have a shorter and stouter bill than Purple Sandpipers.
© Matt Brady / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, January 09, 2011Rotate Your Device to Better Compare
Compare with Similar Species
Click on an image to compare
Species in This Family
Sandpipers and Allies(Order: Charadriiformes, Family: Scolopacidae)
Don't miss a thing! Join our email list
The Cornell Lab will send you updates about birds,
birding, and opportunities to help bird conservation.