Least Sandpiper

Calidris minutilla

Introduction

The world's smallest shorebird, white in colour with distinctive greenish-coloured legs, Least Sandpiper is a less than annual visitor from North America.

The Least Sandpiper is the smallest shorebird in the world and, appropriately, unlike it close relatives, forms flocks of dozens rather than thousands.

Key Stats

Status

Very rare

Weight

25.8g

Seasonality

<1%

BTO Records

446 records

Population and distribution stats for:

No data

No current data

No current data

No data

No current data

No current data

Status and Trends

Population size, trends and patterns of distribution based on BTO and partnership surveys and atlasses with data collected by BTO volunteers.

Conservation Status

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This species can be found on the following statutory and conservation listings and schedules.

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (global)

Least Concern

Schedule 1 Licence required (to disturb)*

Birds Directive Annex 1

* A guide only. Check details with the original legislation, especially those marked with an asterisk. See About Birdfacts for more information.

Population Size

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BOU Category

Source

First Record*

Cornwall, 1853

* First documented occurrence. Most species undoubtedly occurred before this. See About Birdfacts for more information.

Population Change

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Population trends of this scarce species are not routinely monitored.

Distribution

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This species is a rare vagrant and was recorded during Bird Atlas 2007–11 as shown on the map.

Bird Atlas distribution maps show where bird species breed or winter in Britain and Ireland. For breeding maps, larger dots indicate higher certainty the species bred in that area.

Breeding Distribution for Least Sandpiper

Click the map to enlarge,
or view it on Bird Atlas Mapstore.

To view and download up-to-date distribution information aggregated from across BTO and partnership surveys and schemes, see our data holdings on the NBN Atlas.

Distribution Change

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This vagrant is too rarely reported to map distribution change.

Seasonality

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Least Sandpiper is a very rare vagrant in autumn.

Weekly pattern of occurrence

The graph shows when the species is present in the UK, with taller bars indicating a higher likelihood of encountering the species in appropriate regions and habitats.

Phenology graph — Weekly occurrence patterns (shaded cells and reporting rates (vertical bars) based on BirdTrack data. Reporting rates give the likelihood of encountering the species each week.

Movement

Information about Least Sandpiper movements and migration based on online bird portals (e.g. BirdTrack), Ringing schemes and tracking studies.

Britain & Ireland movement

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View a summary of recoveries in the Online Ringing Report

European movements

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EuroBirdPortal uses birdwatcher's records, such as those logged in BirdTrack to map the flows of birds as they arrive and depart Europe. See maps for this species here.

Biology

Lifecycle and body size information for Least Sandpiper, including statistics on nesting, eggs and lifespan based on BTO ringing and nest recording data.

Survival and Longevity

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Survival is shown as the proportion of birds surviving from one year to the next and is derived from bird ringing data. It can also be used to estimate how long birds typically live.

Classification, names and codes

Taxonomy, names and species codes for Least Sandpiper

Classification and Codes

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Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Scolopacidae
Scientific name: Calidris minutilla
Authority: Vieillot, 1819

BTO 2-letter code: EP
BTO 5-letter code: LEASA
Euring code number: 5040

Alternate species names

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Catalan: territ menut canadenc
Czech: jespák drobný
Danish: Amerikansk Dværgryle
Dutch: Kleinste Strandloper
Estonian: pisirisla e. pisirüdi
Finnish: amerikansirri
French: Bécasseau minuscule

German: Wiesenstrandläufer
Hungarian: törpepartfutó
Icelandic: Mærutíta
Irish: Godadáinín Bídeach
Italian: Gambecchio americano
Latvian: mazais trulitis
Lithuanian: nykštukinis begikas
Norwegian: Pygmésnipe

Polish: biegus karlowaty
Portuguese: maçariquinho / pilrito-anão
Slovak: pobrežník najmenší
Slovenian: pritlikavi prodnik
Spanish: Correlimos menudillo
Swedish: dvärgsnäppa
Welsh: Pibydd Bychan

More Evidence

More evidence from Conservation Evidence.com

Partners

Birdfacts is based on data collected by volunteers participating in surveys that are organised and funded by BTO, RSPB, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, JNCC and other partners.

BTO

Esmée Fairbairn Foundation

JNCC

RSPB

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