FOR AGES 3 YEARS TO 18 YEARS
At Kidadl we pride ourselves on offering families original ideas to make the most of time spent together at home or out and about, wherever you are in the world. We strive to recommend the very best things that are suggested by our community and are things we would do ourselves - our aim is to be the trusted friend to parents.
We try our very best, but cannot guarantee perfection. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so it’s important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family.
Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability.
Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.
The Least Sandpiper, Calidris minutilla as it is scientifically known, belongs to the Scolopacidae family. It is the smallest shorebird in the world. Commonly, it is found in the southern United States and northern South America, and North America. The habitat of this bird includes boreal forests, meadows, coastal mudflats, rocky shorelines, and sandy beaches. The Least Sandpiper diet includes insects, amphipods, and isopods and buried prey by probing mudflats. The breeding grounds are mostly in Tundra and forests in regions of North America. It is believed that males arrive at the breeding grounds late and breeding pairs are formed. Both the males and females incubate the eggs in the nest and the juvenile Least Sandpiper or young one is capable of feeding itself. The Least Sandpiper beak is thin, long, and dark and is known to have a shorter neck, brown breast, and short toes. The adults tend to have dark streaks while the young are slightly brightly colored. Migration happens among these birds and these birds tend to travel long distances nonstop. A young is fed even during migration or wintering by the parents. While there exist some similar species, all are slightly different and could be identified by certain features and flight. The Least Sandpiper, Calidris minutilla as it is scientifically known, have not been domesticated in any way and are highly wild birds. These birds are small but there is a long list of interesting things to learn about them so keep reading, and if you are interested, read about the Nicobar pigeon and laughing gull too.
The Least Sandpipers are birds.
This bird belongs to the class of Aves of birds.
The total population of this bird is estimated to be 700,000.
The Least Sandpiper range is found in extreme northern regions of North America. They may also live in Mexico and the Caribbean.
These birds breed in the tundra and boreal forest. The nesting happens in coastal wetlands, bogs, meadows, and tussock heaths. They also sometimes nest in sand dunes. During migration, they tend to be around coastal mudflats, rocky shorelines, and inland habitats including wet meadows and areas, flooded fields, and muddy edges of lakes, ponds, and ditches. The Least Sandpiper winter can be spent in parts of South America in mangrove forests, lagoons, wet ditches, swamps, and wet fields.
These birds are found alone and in groups sometimes.
This bird tends to live for about 12 years or more in the wild.
These birds tend to breed in the northern part of North America in tundra or bogs. They nest on the ground near water. The female lays around four eggs in scrapes covered or lined with grass and moss. Both parents tend to incubate the eggs but females tend to leave after some time the eggs hatch or even before that. The young are capable of feeding themselves and can fly within two weeks of birth.
The conservation status of the Least Sandpipers is Least Concern. They are thought to have a stable population.
Least Sandpipers have thin, long, and dark bills and greenish-yellowish legs. The breeding adults are brown with darker brown streaks on top and they are white underneath. They have a dark crown and light line above the eye. In winter, these birds tend to be gray above. The young or the juveniles are bright patterned and white mantle stripes. These are known to have a shorter neck, brown breast, and shorter toes with dull colors.
These birds are considered to be cute because of their somewhat shorter appearance.
During the breeding season, males display for females by very noisy callings and make fast circular flights with fast wingbeats and glide and then descent to the ground. They defend their display areas by fighting with other males, landing on their backs, sparring with their feet, and chase each other.
Sandpipers weigh around 0.042-0.066 lb (0.019-0.03 kg) and are 5.1-5.9 in (129-150 mm) long. They are very small Sandpipers.
The exact speed of the flight of Least Sandpipers is unknown but the Sandpipers' wingspan is around 10.6-11 in (270-279 mm).
Sandpipers weigh around 0.042-0.066 lb (0.019-0.03 kg).
There are no specific names for males and females of the species.
While there is no specific name for a baby but in general, the juvenile birds are called chicks.
Least Sandpipers generally eat insects and other invertebrates. They forage in moist mudflats, sandy beaches, or openings in marsh vegetations. The diet of small invertebrates includes amphipods, isopods, gastropods, water fleas, midges, flies, beetles, and dragonflies. They hunt the prey at the surface and explore damp mud for buried prey and food. Their diet also includes seeds of marsh grasses that include smartweed and panic grass.
It is only known that the Sandpipers have no adverse effects on humans but it is believed that these birds do not like interacting with humans.
Sandpipers have not been domesticated in any way and they would not make great pets as they are wild and in some places, it is illegal to capture these birds.
Female sandpipers have slightly larger bills than males.
Both the male and the female incubates the eggs. The males take a longer shift that is almost the whole day while females incubate during the evenings.
The breeding pair is considered to be monogamous and stays together until the female abandons the brood.
Many species are diurnal and active during the day but some are crepuscular or nocturnal.
Though this bird is the smallest shorebird in the world, it is known to be the migration powerhouse as it can sometimes travel 2500 mi nonstop while migrating.
Unlike other species of sandpipers, Least Sandpipers travel in flocks of tens to hundreds rather than in groups of thousands.
Least Sandpipers were first described in 1815 by Louis Jean Pierre Vieillot, a French ornithologist.
There are many collective nouns for a group of Sandpipers like a bind, contradiction, fling, hill, and time-step.
If you are thinking about the Least Sandpiper vs Semipalmated Sandpiper or the Least Sandpiper vs Western Sandpiper, the greenish-yellow legs of this smallest shorebird distinguish it from the other two who have black legs.
When in flight, this species displays a white stripe down its wing and white on the side of the tail. The underwings are also slightly darker than the Western and Semipalmated Sandpipers.
There are around 98 species of Sandpipers.
Killdeer are similar species in terms of the appearance of Least Sandpipers as these birds also have brown and white parts on the body.
There are various differences between the two Sandpipers. The Least Sandpipers are smaller than the spotted ones. These sandpipers have an intricately patterned back while the Spotted Sandpiper has plain brown backs. Spotted Sandpipers are seldom found in flocks whereas Least Sandpipers are found in flocks of tens to hundreds. Spotted Sandpipers have yellowish legs while Least Sandpipers have greenish-yellowish legs.
The food and diet of both species are similar. The habitat, breeding ground, and migration places are also similar for both the Sandpipers, and both are rarely found in West Europe.
Migration usually happens when the ecological climate is not favorable for breeding, feeding, or raising the young. These birds migrate in flocks or groups to the Southern United States, Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and northern South America. Some migratory or wintering habitats are coastal and some inland.
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other birds including Caspian tern, or robin.
You can even occupy yourself at home by drawing one on our least sandpiper coloring pages.
Read The Disclaimer
At Kidadl we pride ourselves on offering families original ideas to make the most of time spent together at home or out and about, wherever you are in the world. We strive to recommend the very best things that are suggested by our community and are things we would do ourselves - our aim is to be the trusted friend to parents.
We try our very best, but cannot guarantee perfection. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so it’s important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family.
Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability.
Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.
Kidadl is independent and to make our service free to you the reader we are supported by advertising.
We hope you love our recommendations for products and services! What we suggest is selected independently by the Kidadl team. If you purchase using the buy now button we may earn a small commission. This does not influence our choices. Please note: prices are correct and items are available at the time the article was published.
Kidadl has a number of affiliate partners that we work with including Amazon. Please note that Kidadl is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.
We also link to other websites, but are not responsible for their content.
Was this article helpful?
We’ll send you tons of inspiration to help you find a hidden gem in your local area or plan a big day out.
Check your inbox for your latest news from us. You have subscribed to:
Remember that you can always manage your preferences or unsubscribe through the link at the foot of each newsletter.