Sanderling Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesSanderling
Breeding adult
Plump sandpiper with a stout black bill. Breeding birds have rusty mottling on the back, head, and breast. Note unmarked sides and black legs.
© Jonathan Lugo / Macaulay LibraryVirginia, May 26, 2016Nonbreeding adult
Plump sandpiper with a stout black bill. Nonbreeding birds are pale gray above and white below without streaking. Darker shoulder bar sometimes visible.
© Ryan Schain / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, November 16, 2014Juveniles
Forages at the water's edge, typically on sandy beaches during winter; often found inland during migration.
© DAVID BROWN / Macaulay LibraryNew York, October 01, 2004Not all videos have sound
Juvenile
Juveniles have a checkered back and unmarked white underparts.
© Jonathan Eckerson / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, September 02, 2016Nonbreeding adult
In flight, note dark leading edge of the wing from above and all white wings from below.
© John P Richardson / Macaulay LibraryMinnesota, May 02, 2017Breeding adult
Breeding adults have varying amounts of rusty wash on the upperparts. Note stout black bill and clean white underparts.
© Jay McGowan / Macaulay LibraryNew York, June 01, 2015Breeding adult
Plump shorebird with a stout black bill and black legs. Breeding birds have rusty mottled upperparts.
© Alex Eberts / Macaulay LibraryOhio, May 27, 2017Juvenile
Juveniles have speckled backs and unmarked white underparts.
© Jay McGowan / Macaulay LibraryNew York, September 10, 2014Nonbreeding adult
Scurries back and forth chasing waves while foraging in loose groups.
© Theadora Block / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, January 29, 2017Flock
Forms large flocks during migration. Found on sandy beaches chasing waves.
© Tom Unsicker / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, August 07, 2016Similar SpeciesLeast Sandpiper
Nonbreeding adult
Least Sandpipers are smaller than Sanderlings with a dingy breast and yellow legs. Sanderlings have a clean breast and dark legs.
© Ian Davies / Macaulay LibraryGeorgia, September 28, 2016Similar SpeciesSemipalmated Sandpiper
Nonbreeding adult
Semipalmated Sandpipers are smaller than Sanderlings with fine streaking on the breast that nonbreeding Sanderlings don't have.
© Jonathan Eckerson / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, July 16, 2017Similar SpeciesWestern Sandpiper
Nonbreeding adult
Western Sandpipers are smaller than Sanderlings. The head and back is finely streaked on Western Sandpipers, but unstreaked and pale gray on nonbreeding Sanderlings.
© Patrick Maurice / Macaulay LibraryFlorida, November 06, 2016Similar SpeciesWhite-rumped Sandpiper
Molting adult
White-rumped Sandpipers have streaking on the breast and flanks while nonbreeding Sanderlings have a clean breast and flanks.
© Dorian Anderson / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, September 11, 2011Similar SpeciesRed Knot
Breeding adult
Red Knots are larger than Sanderlings with a stouter bill and more extensive rusty coloring on the belly.
© Ian Davies / Macaulay LibraryAlaska, May 25, 2013Similar SpeciesRed Knot
Nonbreeding
Red Knots are larger than Sanderlings with a stouter bill. Nonbreeding knots have barring on the flanks while nonbreeding Sanderlings have a clean white belly.
© David Clark / Macaulay LibraryVirginia, October 26, 2008Similar SpeciesDunlin
Nonbreeding adult
Dunlin are larger than Sanderlings, with a longer and often drooping bill.
© Alix d'Entremont / Macaulay LibraryNova Scotia, October 12, 2014Similar SpeciesSnowy Plover
Nonbreeding
Snowy Plovers are smaller with shorter bills than Sanderlings. They are usually found higher on the beach and don’t chase after waves like Sanderlings do.
© Brian Sullivan / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, January 12, 2013Similar SpeciesPiping Plover
Juvenile
Juvenile and nonbreeding Piping Plovers have a smaller, stubbier bill than Sanderlings. They also have yellow (not black) legs.
© Sue Barth / Macaulay LibraryNew York, August 15, 2016Rotate 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.