All species › Waders, gulls and terns › Sandpipers and allies › Comparing sandpipers and snipes
Comparing sandpipers and snipes
The native sandpipers, tattlers and yellowlegs, snipes, curlews, godwits and phalaropes in the guide side by side, for use in the field. Pick what you see (bill, legs, wing stripe, rump, plumage) and the table keeps what fits.
Kind of bird
Size
Legs
Wing stripe in flight
Rump in flight
Breeding plumage
Winter plumage
Scroll the table sideways to see all columns.
| Species | Kind of bird | Size | Bill length | Bill shape | Legs | Wing stripe in flight | Rump in flight | Breeding plumage | Winter plumage | What to look for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Upland SandpiperBartramia longicauda | yellowlegs, tattler, willet or Spotted, Solitary or Upland Sandpiper | medium (20–35 cm) | short (no longer than the head) | straight | yellow to greenish-yellow | none | all dark | little different from winter | brown or grey streaked | Note the small round head with a large dark eye, thin neck, long tail, and its habit of standing in dry grassland. |
| Bristle-thighed CurlewNumenius tahitiensis | curlew or godwit | large (> 35 cm) | long (1.5 to 2 times the head) | downcurved | grey-green, olive or blue-grey | none | cinnamon or brown, no white | little different from winter | mottled or scaled above | In flight look for the bright cinnamon rump and tail; perched, note the coarse buff spotting on the upperparts. |
| Hudsonian WhimbrelNumenius hudsonicus | curlew or godwit | large (> 35 cm) | long (1.5 to 2 times the head) | downcurved | grey-green, olive or blue-grey | none | all dark | little different from winter | brown or grey streaked | Look for the striped crown with a pale central stripe, the grey-brown rather than cinnamon tone, and the brown rump without white. |
| Long-billed CurlewNumenius americanus | curlew or godwit | large (> 35 cm) | very long (over 2 times the head) | downcurved | grey-green, olive or blue-grey | none | cinnamon or brown, no white | little different from winter | plain brown, grey-brown or buff | Note the extremely long curved bill, unstriped crown, cinnamon-buff tone and cinnamon underwing. |
| Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponica | curlew or godwit | large (> 35 cm) | very long (over 2 times the head) | slightly upturned | black or dark | none | grey, finely barred | rufous to cinnamon | brown or grey streaked | Note the barred tail with no white wing stripe, the relatively short legs and the streaked upperparts outside the breeding season. |
| Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoa | curlew or godwit | large (> 35 cm) | very long (over 2 times the head) | slightly upturned | black or dark | none | cinnamon or brown, no white | spotted or barred | plain brown, grey-brown or buff | Look for the warm cinnamon colour, slightly upturned two-toned bill and, in flight, the cinnamon underwing. |
| Hudsonian GodwitLimosa haemastica | curlew or godwit | large (> 35 cm) | very long (over 2 times the head) | slightly upturned | black or dark | narrow or faint | white | rufous to cinnamon | grey above, white below | In flight look for the black underwing, narrow white wing stripe, and white rump above a black tail. |
| Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceus | snipe, woodcock or dowitcher | medium (20–35 cm) | very long (over 2 times the head) | straight | grey-green, olive or blue-grey | none | white wedge up the back | rufous to cinnamon | grey above, white below | Listen for the sharp high ‘keek’ call; look for fully rufous underparts with barred flanks, and a plain dark grey breast in winter. |
| Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseus | snipe, woodcock or dowitcher | medium (20–35 cm) | long (1.5 to 2 times the head) | straight | grey-green, olive or blue-grey | none | white wedge up the back | rufous to cinnamon | grey above, white below | Listen for the mellow ‘tu-tu-tu’ call; look for spotted rather than barred flanks and often a white belly in breeding plumage. |
| American WoodcockScolopax minor | snipe, woodcock or dowitcher | medium (20–35 cm) | long (1.5 to 2 times the head) | straight | pink or flesh-coloured | none | all dark | little different from winter | mottled or scaled above | Look for the crossbars on the rear of the crown, the plain orange-buff underparts and its woodland and thicket habitat. |
| Wilson's SnipeGallinago delicata | snipe, woodcock or dowitcher | medium (20–35 cm) | very long (over 2 times the head) | straight | grey-green, olive or blue-grey | none | all dark | little different from winter | brown or grey streaked | Look for the striped head, pale stripes along the back, barred flanks, and the zigzag escape flight with a harsh call. |
| Spotted SandpiperActitis macularius | yellowlegs, tattler, willet or Spotted, Solitary or Upland Sandpiper | small (< 20 cm) | short (no longer than the head) | straight | yellow to greenish-yellow | narrow or faint | dark with white sides | spotted or barred | plain brown, grey-brown or buff | Watch for the constant teetering of the rear body, the white wedge in front of the bend of the wing, and low flight over the water on stiff, shallow wingbeats. |
| Wilson's PhalaropePhalaropus tricolor | phalarope | medium (20–35 cm) | medium (a little longer than the head) | straight | black or dark | none | white | mixed black, white and rufous | grey above, white below | Look for the long needle bill, white rump with no wing stripe in flight, and its habit of walking on mud as well as swimming. |
| Red PhalaropePhalaropus fulicarius | phalarope | medium (20–35 cm) | short (no longer than the head) | straight | black or dark | bold white | dark with white sides | rufous to cinnamon | grey above, white below | Note the thicker bill with a yellow base, the plain pale grey back in winter and the all-rufous underparts in breeding plumage. |
| Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatus | phalarope | small (< 20 cm) | short (no longer than the head) | straight | black or dark | bold white | dark with white sides | rufous to cinnamon | grey above, white below | Note the needle-thin black bill, the dark back with pale stripes and, in breeding plumage, the rufous neck sides. |
| Solitary SandpiperTringa solitaria | yellowlegs, tattler, willet or Spotted, Solitary or Upland Sandpiper | medium (20–35 cm) | medium (a little longer than the head) | straight | grey-green, olive or blue-grey | none | dark with white sides | spotted or barred | plain brown, grey-brown or buff | Look for the white eye-ring, the dark rump with barred white tail sides, and the dark underwing in flight. |
| Wandering TattlerTringa incana | yellowlegs, tattler, willet or Spotted, Solitary or Upland Sandpiper | medium (20–35 cm) | medium (a little longer than the head) | straight | yellow to greenish-yellow | none | all dark | spotted or barred | grey above, white below | Look for the uniform slate-grey upperparts, wings and rump, the short yellow legs and its teetering on coastal rocks. |
| Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipes | yellowlegs, tattler, willet or Spotted, Solitary or Upland Sandpiper | medium (20–35 cm) | short (no longer than the head) | straight | yellow to greenish-yellow | none | white | spotted or barred | mottled or scaled above | Note the thin, straight, all-dark bill about the length of the head and the softer one- or two-note call. |
| WilletTringa semipalmata | yellowlegs, tattler, willet or Spotted, Solitary or Upland Sandpiper | large (> 35 cm) | medium (a little longer than the head) | straight | grey-green, olive or blue-grey | bold white | white | spotted or barred | grey above, white below | Note the thick straight bill, blue-grey legs and, in flight, the bold black-and-white wing pattern. |
| Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleuca | yellowlegs, tattler, willet or Spotted, Solitary or Upland Sandpiper | medium (20–35 cm) | long (1.5 to 2 times the head) | slightly upturned | yellow to greenish-yellow | none | white | spotted or barred | mottled or scaled above | Note the bill about one and a half times the head, slightly upturned and grey at the base, and the loud three-note call. |
| Black TurnstoneArenaria melanocephala | sandpiper or turnstone | medium (20–35 cm) | short (no longer than the head) | straight | black or dark | bold white | white wedge up the back | little different from winter | plain brown, grey-brown or buff | Look for the blackish head, breast and upperparts sharply set off from the white belly, and the dark legs. |
| Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpres | sandpiper or turnstone | medium (20–35 cm) | short (no longer than the head) | straight | orange to red | bold white | white wedge up the back | mixed black, white and rufous | mottled or scaled above | Note the orange legs, black breast band and brownish rather than black upperparts; in flight a bold black, white and rufous pattern. |
| Red KnotCalidris canutus | sandpiper or turnstone | medium (20–35 cm) | short (no longer than the head) | straight | grey-green, olive or blue-grey | narrow or faint | grey, finely barred | rufous to cinnamon | grey above, white below | Look for the stocky build, straight head-length bill, greenish-grey legs and, in flight, the pale grey barred rump. |
| SurfbirdCalidris virgata | sandpiper or turnstone | medium (20–35 cm) | short (no longer than the head) | straight | yellow to greenish-yellow | bold white | white | spotted or barred | grey above, white below | Note the short, blunt bill with a yellow base, the yellow legs and, in flight, the white tail with a broad black tip. |
| Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopus | sandpiper or turnstone | medium (20–35 cm) | long (1.5 to 2 times the head) | downcurved | yellow to greenish-yellow | none | white | spotted or barred | grey above, white below | Note the long bill with a drooping tip, the white eyebrow, and feeding deep in water with a sewing-machine motion like a dowitcher. |
| Buff-breasted SandpiperCalidris subruficollis | sandpiper or turnstone | small (< 20 cm) | short (no longer than the head) | straight | yellow to greenish-yellow | none | all dark | little different from winter | plain brown, grey-brown or buff | Look for the plain buff face and underparts, the large dark eye on a pale head, and the white underwing in flight. |
| SanderlingCalidris alba | sandpiper or turnstone | small (< 20 cm) | short (no longer than the head) | straight | black or dark | bold white | dark with white sides | rufous to cinnamon | grey above, white below | Look for the very pale winter plumage with a black shoulder mark, black legs, and running back and forth along the surf line. |
| DunlinCalidris alpina | sandpiper or turnstone | small (< 20 cm) | medium (a little longer than the head) | downcurved | black or dark | bold white | dark with white sides | black belly or underparts | grey above, white below | Look for the long bill drooping at the tip; in breeding plumage a black belly patch with rufous back, in winter a dingy grey breast. |
| Purple SandpiperCalidris maritima | sandpiper or turnstone | medium (20–35 cm) | medium (a little longer than the head) | downcurved | yellow to greenish-yellow | narrow or faint | dark with white sides | spotted or barred | grey above, white below | Look for the plain slate-grey head and breast, orange bill base and dull orange-yellow legs, on surf-washed rocks. |
| Rock SandpiperCalidris ptilocnemis | sandpiper or turnstone | medium (20–35 cm) | medium (a little longer than the head) | downcurved | yellow to greenish-yellow | narrow or faint | dark with white sides | black belly or underparts | grey above, white below | Note the plump shape, rocky shoreline habitat, dull greenish-yellow bill base and legs (orange-yellow in Purple Sandpiper), and grey spotting on the breast and flanks. |
| Baird's SandpiperCalidris bairdii | sandpiper or turnstone | small (< 20 cm) | short (no longer than the head) | straight | black or dark | narrow or faint | dark with white sides | brown or grey streaked | mottled or scaled above | Look for the long wings projecting well past the tail, the scaly buff-brown back and the buffy, finely streaked breast. |
| Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotos | sandpiper or turnstone | medium (20–35 cm) | short (no longer than the head) | straight | yellow to greenish-yellow | narrow or faint | dark with white sides | brown or grey streaked | brown or grey streaked | Look for the densely streaked breast ending in a sharp line against the white belly, and the yellowish legs. |
| Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusilla | sandpiper or turnstone | small (< 20 cm) | short (no longer than the head) | straight | black or dark | narrow or faint | dark with white sides | brown or grey streaked | grey above, white below | Note the short, straight, blunt-tipped bill, the black legs and the greyish-brown tone with little rufous. |
| Western SandpiperCalidris mauri | sandpiper or turnstone | small (< 20 cm) | medium (a little longer than the head) | downcurved | black or dark | narrow or faint | dark with white sides | rufous to cinnamon | grey above, white below | Look for the longer bill with a slightly drooping tip and, in breeding plumage, rufous scapulars and ear patch with chevrons on the flanks. |
| Least SandpiperCalidris minutilla | sandpiper or turnstone | small (< 20 cm) | short (no longer than the head) | straight | yellow to greenish-yellow | narrow or faint | dark with white sides | brown or grey streaked | brown or grey streaked | Note the yellowish legs, warm brown tone and thin bill with a slightly drooping tip; the smallest in the group. |
| White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollis | sandpiper or turnstone | small (< 20 cm) | short (no longer than the head) | straight | black or dark | narrow or faint | white | brown or grey streaked | brown or grey streaked | In flight watch for the complete white band above the tail; perched, note the long wings and streaks extending onto the flanks. |
No species fits this combination. Remove a filter.
Only the native species are listed here; vagrants have their own species page. The features describe the adult, in breeding and winter plumage where these differ. Juveniles are much harder and do not belong in a table like this.