Western Sandpiper
Seen one? Add it to your free UK BirdedexHear its song and see the mapFree, no app download. Legendary bird: +50 points when you log it.
Habitat and behaviour
Habitat: Mudflats (very rare vagrant).
Diet: Invertebrates.
Best time to spot: Drooping bill tip.
When to look
A rare visitor, not a resident. There is no dependable season, though most rarities are found during spring and autumn migration. More on the season in Bird migration in Britain.
How rare is it?
The Western Sandpiper sits in our Legendary tier for the UK: a major rarity, where any record is big news. It is not on the Red or Amber lists in Birds of Conservation Concern 5.
Where to see it
Reserves where the Western Sandpiper is on the list:
Recent UK sightings
No community sightings logged for this species yet. Log the first one.
Similar birds
- Least SandpiperLegendary · Muddy pools (very rare)
- Red-necked StintLegendary · Pools (very rare)
- Sharp-tailed SandpiperLegendary · Coastal pools (very rare)
- Great KnotLegendary · Mudflats (extreme vagrant)
- Broad-billed SandpiperEpic · Pools (very rare passage)
- Semipalmated SandpiperEpic · Mudflats (vagrant)
Kit that helps
Best spotting scopes for UK birding. Affiliate links, our own picks, no extra cost to you.
Log a Western Sandpiper in your free UK Birdedex