Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesSharp-tailed Sandpiper
Breeding adult
A medium-sized shorebird with a rufous cap, prominent white eyeline, thin white eyering, and fairly short, dark bill with pale base. Breeding adult has heavy black spots and chevrons on cinnamon-and-white underparts, rich rufous markings above, and yellowish legs.
© Сергей Кукуев / Macaulay LibraryPrimorsky Krai, May 24, 2024Nonbreeding adult
Nonbreeding adult has mostly plain brown upperparts. Note subdued rufous cap bordered by white eyeline.
© Terence Alexander / Macaulay LibraryQueensland, February 10, 2018Juvenile
A medium-sized shorebird with a rufous cap, white eyeline, and relatively short, mostly dark bill. Juvenile has a buffy wash across the breast and a necklace of fine streaks across the upper breast. Often forages in shallow water with short vegetation.
© Don DesJardin / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, September 18, 2016Juvenile
Juvenile has a buffy-cinnamon breast with fine black streaking, a whitish belly, and dark upperparts with extensive bright orange and white feather edges.
© Zak Pohlen / Macaulay LibraryAlaska, August 26, 2017Juvenile
By late November, young birds can show a mix of juvenile (rufous cap) and nonbreeding adult characters (brownish-gray upperparts).
© County Lister Brendan / Macaulay LibraryVictoria, November 25, 2017Nonbreeding adult
Nonbreeding adults have brown upperparts, a grayish-brown wash across the breast, and limited streaking on the breast and flanks. Note the capped appearance and white eyeline.
© Josep del Hoyo / Macaulay LibraryWaikato, February 14, 2013Breeding adult
Adults in late summer are less colorful than spring birds, but still retain some breeding-plumage spots and chevrons below.
© Dave Bakewell / Macaulay LibrarySarawak, August 09, 2022Nonbreeding adult
Typically occurs in areas with shallow water and short vegetation. Nonbreeding adult has a grayish-brown wash across the breast with faint streaking that extends down the flanks. Note the distinct white eyestripe and dark rufous cap.
© Ged Tranter / Macaulay LibraryQueensland, February 18, 2018Breeding adult
Nests on the ground in areas of wet tundra in the Russian Far East.
© Josep del Hoyo / Macaulay LibrarySakha, June 25, 2019Breeding adult
Breeding adult has a rufous cap, yellow legs, heavy spotting on a buffy-washed breast, and thick chevrons that extend down the flanks to the undertail.
© Luis Gles / Macaulay LibraryAlaska, July 30, 2023Similar SpeciesPectoral Sandpiper
Breeding adult
Breeding adult Pectoral Sandpiper has a clean break between its densely streaked breast and white belly, while breeding adult Sharp-tailed Sandpiper has a streaked breast and extensive chevrons on the belly. Note also breeding Sharp-tailed Sandpiper’s more rufous overall appearance, bright rufous cap, bolder white eyeline, and more prominent eyering.
© Ryan Zucker / Macaulay LibraryAlaska, June 01, 2022Similar SpeciesPectoral Sandpiper
Nonbreeding adult
In all plumages, Pectoral Sandpiper has a clear demarcation between its streaked breast and white belly, whereas Sharp-tailed Sandpiper lacks this clean break. Pectoral Sandpiper, meanwhile, lacks the well-defined cap and prominent eyeline of Sharp-tailed Sandpiper.
© Anonymous / Macaulay LibraryTasmania, February 09, 2019Similar SpeciesPectoral Sandpiper
Juvenile
Juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper has more extensive streaking on the throat and breast than Sharp-tailed Sandpiper. Juvenile Sharp-tailed Sandpiper is more colorful than juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper, with a buffy-cinnamon wash across the breast and a distinct rufous cap bordered by a bold white eyeline.
© Paul Jones / Macaulay LibraryOntario, September 29, 2020Compare with Similar Species
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Species in This Family
Sandpipers and Allies(Order: Charadriiformes, Family: Scolopacidae)
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