Western Sandpiper (Calidris mauri) lives in mud flats across North America. It feeds on small invertebrates & plankton. Its conservation status is Least Concern.
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A real field recording of the Western Sandpiper, made in the wild.
While early studies listed insects, spiders and tiny crustaceans as its main fare, researchers now know the western sandpiper grazes heavily on biofilm, a thin, algae-rich slime coating intertidal mud. That single food source can supply half of the bird's daily energy during migration stopovers.
From the tundra of eastern Siberia and Alaska, western sandpipers fan out to every coastal edge of North and South America, the Caribbean, and even the Gulf of Mexico, covering a non-breeding range that stretches from California's Pacific shores to New York's Atlantic coast.
Adult western sandpipers survive just under half of each year, 46.9-48.9 % annual survival, while juveniles face an 8 % lower chance, reflecting the harsh reality of early life. The longest wild individual lived 9 years and 2 months, showing that once past the vulnerable first year, these birds can persist for nearly a decade, underscoring the importance of protecting both breeding and stop-over habitats to sustain their populations.
At just 14-17 cm long and weighing only 22-35 g, the western sandpiper, its wings span 35-37 cm.
A western sandpiper pair lays four eggs in a single clutch, and every egg hatches within a day, 12 to 24 hours after the first breaks. The chicks are precocial, feeding themselves within 24 hours and fledging after just two to three weeks.
Sources
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As the tide recedes, a diminutive figure emerges from the misty veil of the shoreline, the Western Sandpiper dancing across the wet sand with an air of frenetic energy, its tiny legs a blur as it probes the mudflats for hidden morsels. With each step, the sandpiper's long, black bill twitches and darts, a precision instrument honed by countless generations of foraging in these ephemeral landscapes. In its relentless pursuit of sustenance, the Western Sandpiper embodies the very essence of resilience, a small but indomitable spirit that weaves in and out of the tidal zone with a mesmerizing blend of industry and grace.
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