Spotted Sandpiper
Actitis macularius
OrderCharadriiformes
FamilyScolopacidae
Habitatnearly any shoreline - lakes, rivers, creeks, coasts
Seasonmigration and winter; the most widespread Texas shorebird
LocationTexas
Size~7.5 in / 19 cm
Dietaquatic insects, small crustaceans picked from the water's edge
ConservationLeast Concern
CameraCOOLPIX P1000Lens539mmAperturef/8Shutter1/400ISO400
Leucistic individual - a genetic condition that removes melanin from some or all feathers. Note the normal dark eye, which separates leucism from true albinism.
About the Spotted Sandpiper
The teetering shorebird of nearly every water edge in North America, instantly known by its constant tail-bobbing walk and stiff, flickering flight low over the water. Spotted Sandpipers reverse the usual sex roles: females arrive first, defend territories and may pair with several males, each male incubating his own clutch. The bold breast spots of summer disappear in winter plumage. The individual photographed here is leucistic - a genetic condition that strips melanin from some or all feathers, leaving a mostly white bird with normal eyes and bare parts, unlike a true albino.
Want to see a Spotted Sandpiper in the wild?
Join one of my guided birding tours!
Join one of my guided birding tours!
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