Spotted Sandpiper Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesSpotted Sandpiper
Breeding adult
Medium-sized shorebird with a unique bobbing behavior. Breeding adults have dark spots on the belly and an orangish bill.
© Ian Hearn / Macaulay LibraryIdaho, June 21, 2017Nonbreeding/immature
Often walks in a crouched position. Nonbreeding birds are brownish above with a bit of brown on the breast. Note yellow legs.
© Brad Imhoff / Macaulay LibraryOhio, July 24, 2020Nonbreeding adult
Bobs tail up and down nearly constantly while it walks. Gradually loses the spots on its breast and belly as it molts out of breeding plumage.
© Benjamin Clock / Macaulay LibraryMaine, July 18, 2012Nonbreeding/immature
Flies with stuttering wingbeats (quick, snappy wingbeats interspersed with glides).
© Juan Miguel Artigas Azas / Macaulay LibrarySan Luis Potosí, August 22, 2020Breeding adult
Medium-sized shorebird. Breeding birds have a heavily spotted breast and an orangish bill.
© Fyn Kynd / Macaulay LibraryMaine, May 11, 2018Nonbreeding/immature
Nonbreeding birds and juveniles lack the spotted breast. Brownish above with a brown wash on the breast and a white belly. Often crouches low and bobs its tail up and down.
© Drew Beamer / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, January 03, 2021Breeding adult
Most often found on the ground, but sometimes perches on trees or posts, while taking care of young.
© Robb Bell / Macaulay LibraryAlberta, June 26, 2016Nonbreeding adult
Found almost anywhere near water, and often inland along streambanks, rivers, ponds, lakes, and beaches, particularly on rocky shores.
© Ian Davies / Macaulay LibraryTexas, November 05, 2016Similar SpeciesSolitary Sandpiper
Breeding adult
Solitary Sandpipers have longer legs and a more prominent eyering than Spotted Sandpipers. They don't bob or teeter nearly as much as Spotted Sandpipers.
© Jay McGowan / Macaulay LibraryNew York, May 17, 2013Similar SpeciesSolitary Sandpiper
Nonbreeding adult
Solitary Sandpipers have a longer legs than Spotted Sandpipers. They also have white edges on the feathers that look like tiny spots that nonbreeding Spotted Sandpipers don't have.
© Benny Diaz / Macaulay LibraryCabo Rojo, November 07, 2016Similar SpeciesLesser Yellowlegs
Breeding adult
Lesser Yellowlegs are larger with longer, brighter yellow legs than Spotted Sandpipers. They also don't bob their tails when they walk like Spotted Sandpipers do.
© Brendan Klick / Macaulay LibraryMichigan, April 29, 2017Similar SpeciesLesser Yellowlegs
Nonbreeding adult
Lesser Yellowlegs are taller than Spotted Sandpipers with a longer bill. They also have mottling on the back while Spotted Sandpipers have a plain brown back.
© Fernando Farias / Macaulay LibraryParaná, April 01, 2017Similar SpeciesLeast Sandpiper
Nonbreeding adult
Least Sandpipers are smaller than Spotted Sandpipers and always have an intricately patterned brown back whereas Spotted Sandpipers have a plain brown back.
© Ian Davies / Macaulay LibraryGeorgia, September 28, 2016Compare with Similar Species
Click on an image to compare
Species in This Family
Sandpipers and Allies(Order: Charadriiformes, Family: Scolopacidae)
More to Read
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.