Western Sandpiper
Calidris mauri
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Cordats)
- ClassAves (Aus)
- OrderCharadriiformes (Caradriformes)
- FamilyScolopacidae (Sandpipers and Allies)
- GenusCalidris (Calidris Sandpipers)
- SpeciesCalidris mauri (Western Sandpiper)
The western sandpiper (Calidris mauri) is a small migratory shorebird. The genus name is from Ancient Greek kalidris or skalidris, a term used by Aristotle for some grey-coloured waterside birds. The specific mauri commemorates Italian botanist Ernesto Mauri (1791–1836). This is one of the most abundant shorebird species in North America, with a population in the millions. Within the genus Calidris the western sandpiper is most closely related to the semipalmated sandpiper (Calidris pusilla). Wikipedia →
<5% of wildlife watchers report a Western Sandpiper sighting in Piedras Blancas National Park, based on 25 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
Closest Relatives at Piedras Blancas National Park
Sanderling
Calidris alba
Least Sandpiper
Calidris minutilla
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Calidris pusilla
Stilt Sandpiper
Calidris himantopus
Spotted Sandpiper
Actitis macularius
Hudsonian Whimbrel
Numenius hudsonicus
Willet
Tringa semipalmata
Whimbrel
Numenius phaeopus
Solitary Sandpiper
Tringa solitaria
Ruddy Turnstone
Arenaria interpres
Wilson's Snipe
Gallinago delicata
Short-billed Dowitcher
Limnodromus griseus
📅 Monthly Probability
☀️ When They're Spotted
Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)
Global Distribution
Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.
where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there
Parks Where Found
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Western Sandpiper in Piedras Blancas National Park?
About 1% of wildlife watchers report a Western Sandpiper sighting in Piedras Blancas National Park, based on 25 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Western Sandpiper in Piedras Blancas National Park?
August has the highest sighting rate for Western Sandpiper in Piedras Blancas National Park in our monthly data.