Sandpipers- ORDER: Charadriiformes
- FAMILY: Scolopacidae
Basic Description
Baird's Sandpiper’s long, tapering wings, an adaptation for its very long migrations, make it perhaps the most elegant of the “peeps,” the small sandpipers in the genus Calidris. Their delicate buff and brown tones are warmer than the grayish brown of many other sandpipers, lending a softness to their plumage that makes them among the most recognizable species of the group. Baird’s Sandpipers are often nicknamed “grasspipers” because of their tendency to forage in drier, more vegetated habitats than many shorebirds.
More ID InfoFind This Bird
Most birders will want to look for Baird’s Sandpipers during migration as they pass swiftly through the center of North America. Look for them in drier places than most other shorebirds, including sod farms, grazed pastureland, harvested agricultural fields, rain puddles, and lake and river edges. They seldom flock with other shorebirds but often forage near them, though usually in the drier parts of the habitat and on the edges of flocks.
Other Names
- Correlimos de Baird (Spanish)
- Bécasseau de Baird (French)