Sanderling

Calidris alba

Scurrying along shorelines worldwide, these small shorebirds dash in and out with the waves, frantically pecking for tiny crustaceans.

Share this bird:

Visual Identification

Appearance

The Sanderling is a small, plump shorebird with a short, straight black bill and black legs. In breeding plumage, it displays a rusty head, neck, and back. During winter, it transforms into a pale grey above and white below, earning its nickname 'beach bird'.

Females are similar to males, although somewhat duller in their rufous breeding plumage. Both sexes have black legs and pure white underparts year-round.

Juveniles resemble non-breeding adults but have a scaly pattern on their backs. All plumages show a distinctive white wing stripe in flight, contrasting with darker flight feathers.

Size

Length

18cm to 20cm

Wingspan

35cm to 39cm

Weight

40g to 100g

Colours

Males and females have similar plumage

Primary Colour

White Grey

Secondary Colour

Black Rufous

Beak Colour

Black

Leg Colour

Black

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Sanderling is not typically found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Sanderling is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Sanderling can be found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Sanderling can be found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Sanderling is not typically found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Sanderling is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Sanderling is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Sanderling is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Sanderling is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Sanderling is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Sanderling is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Sanderling is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

Sanderlings breed in the high Arctic tundra of North America, Europe, and Asia. During migration and winter, they are found on sandy beaches and coastal mudflats across six continents, making them one of the most widespread shorebirds globally.

They are common migrants along the coasts of the UK, USA, Canada, and Australia. Some individuals overwinter in these regions, particularly in milder coastal areas.

Elevation Range

Sea level to 200 meters

Climate zones

Arctic, Temperate, Tropical

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Sanderling. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons