Birdsong field guide
Spotted Sandpiper
Actitis macularius
A common North American shorebird easily identified by its constant tail-bobbing and bold breeding plumage spots.
What it sounds like
A series of sharp, high-pitched whistling 'peet-weet' or 'weet-weet' notes, often repeated when flushed.
Reference call, compare with what you heard
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Field notes
- Exhibits a polyandrous mating system where females compete for territory and multiple male mates.
- Characterized by a distinctive 'teetering' motion, constantly bobbing its tail while walking or standing.
- The male provides nearly all parental care, including incubation and chick rearing, while the female defends the territory.
- Its flight style is unique among sandpipers, featuring stiff, shallow wingbeats that rarely rise above the horizontal plane.
- In breeding plumage, it is the only North American sandpiper with large, dark spots covering its white breast and belly.
Habitat
Freshwater shorelines, riverbanks, lakeshores, and occasionally coastal estuaries.
Range
Breeds across North America from Alaska to the southern US; winters in the southern US, Central America, and South America.
Similar & commonly confused birds
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