Tringa solitaria

Description

The solitary sandpiper has long greenish-yellow legs, a long brown bill, and a brown head and neck. It has a dark back with white spots and a white front. Its tail has a dark center and white edges.

Voice

The call of the solitary sandpiper is a high "peet" or "peet weet weet."

Breeding

April to September

Habitat

These shorebirds live in marshes, swamps, ponds, and along streams.

Diet

Solitary sandpipers eat spiders, caterpillars, and insects they find in the water.

Range

You can find solitary sandpipers in Canada and Alaska during the summer and in the extreme southern United States during the winter. They pass through VT and NH when they migrate.

Other Useful Information

These birds bob up and down when they walk. Also, they like to be by themselves.

Similar Species

The lesser yellowlegs looks like a solitary sandpiper; however, the solitary sandpiper is smaller, has a darker back, and does not have bright yellow legs. Also, the lesser yellowlegs has wings with a light underside (underwing) and the solitary sandpiper has a dark underwing.