Sandpipers Scolopacidae
There are 23 genera, of which 13 are thus far described below.
Of the 89 species within the family, the Eskimo Curlew Numenis borealis and Slender-billed Curlew Numenius tenuirostris are
critically endangered. The Moluccan Woodcock Scolopax rochussennii, Spotted Greenshank Tringa guttifer,
Tuamotu Sandpiper Prosobonia cancellatus, and the Spoon-billed Sandpiper Eurynorhynchus pygmeus, are all considered
endangered. Another four species are listed as vulnerable, and eleven others are
near-threatened. Sandipers are found on every continent, except Antarctica. The majority of the species breed in the Northern
Hemisphere, then undergo a long distance migration to spend the northern winter season in the warmer Southern Hemisphere.
Gallinago
There are sixteen speies in this genus. The Wood Snipe Gallinago nemoricola is vulnerable. The Great Snipe
Gallinago media, Madagascar Snipe Gallinago macrodactyla, Fuegian Snipe Gallinago stricklandii, and Imperial
Snipe Gallinago imperialis are all near-threatened.
The Wilson's Snipe Gallinago delicata of the New World was until recently, lumped with the Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago
of the Old World. They breed in Canada and the northern United States, then migrate to the southern United States, south to northern South America. A
resident popultion is found in the western United States. This Wilson's Snipe was photographed at the Water Ranch, Gilbert, Arizona.
Limnodromus
There are three species in this genus. The Asian Dowitcher Limnodromus semipalmatus is near-threatened.
The Short-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus griseus is a New World species that has a disjunct breeding range across northern North America. They
migrate south to winter on tidal flats from the southern United States, south to South America. This bird was photographed at the Bolsa Chica Ecological
Reserve, Huntington Beach, California.
Limosa
There are four species in this genus. The Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa is near-threatened.
The Marbled Godwit Limosa fedoa breeds on the northern prairies of western Canada and the Great Plains of the United States. They migrate
south for the winter to the coastal areas of the southern United states, south to Panama. There are occasional sightings in South America. This bird was
photographed at the Bolsa Chica State Beach, Huntington Beach, California.
Numenius
There are eight species in this genus. The Eskimo Curlew Numenis borealis and Slender-billed Curlew Numenius tenuirostris are
critically endangered. The Bristle-thighed Curlew Numenius tahitensis is vulnerable
and the Long-billed Curlew Numenius americanus is near-threatened.
The Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus breeds across much of the subarctic North America, Europe and Asia. They migrate
south to South America, Africa, Asia, and Australasia. The New World race may prove to be a seperate species Hudsonian Curlew
Numenius hudsonicus. This bird was photographed at Venice Beach, near Santa Monica, California.
Bartramia
This is the only member of the genus.
Unlike other sandpipers, the Upland Sandpiper Bartramia longicauda is not dependant on living near areas of water. Their breeding
habitat is prairies, open grasslands, and fields from Alaska, central Canada, and the central and eastern United States. They winter east of the
Andes in South America. This bird was photographed perching on a fence post on it's breeding grounds near Crook, northeastern Colorado.
Tringa
There are ten species in this genus. The Spotted Greenshank Tringa guttifer is endangered.
The Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes nests in Alaska, and western and central Canada. After breeding, they migrate
south to the Gulf coast of the United States and south to South America. Like a good number of other New World shorebirds,
this species is a vagrant to western Europe. Photographed at Water Ranch, Gilbert, Arizona.
Actitis
There are two species in this genus.
The Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularius breeds in Canada and the United States. They migrate south for the winter to the southern
United States, south to South America. This bird was photographed at the wastewater treatment plant in Casa Grande, Arizona.
Catoptrophorus
This is a single speies genus.
There are two distinctive races of Willets Catoptrophorus semipalmatus each with a distinctive breeding range and habitats.
The western race breeds in freshwater prairies of western North America, the eastern race breeds mainly in coastal saltmarshes along the
Atlantic and Gulf coasts of North America, and the West Indies. Both races migrate to as far south as South America for the northern winter.
This bird was photographed at Cholla Bay, near Puerto Penasco, Sonora, Mexico.
Arenaria
There are two species in this genus.
The Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres has a world-wide distribution. During the summer months they breed in the arctic tundra. Their
wintering grounds cover a huge area, encompassing coastal areas of five different continents. This "ballerina" Ruddy Turnstone was photographed at the
fishing village of Rio Lagartos, Yucatan, Mexico.
Aphriza
This is a single speies genus.
The Surfbird Aphriza virgata nests in the high mountains of Alaska. They winter along the entire Pacific coast from southeastern Alaska,
south to the Straits of Magellan. This Surfbird was photographed at Sandy Beach, near Puerto Penasco, Sonora, Mexico.
Calidris
There are 19 species in this genus.
The Baird's Sandpiper Calidris bairdii breeds on coastal tundra in far northeastern Siberia, Arctic North America, and northwestern Greenland.
They mainly migrate east of the Rockies, with the majority passing through the Great Plains. A few birds, mainly juveniles, will migrate along the Pacific
and Atlantic coasts. They spend their winters in the high Andes of South America.
This juvenile Baird's Sandpiper was photographed at Willcox, Arizona.
Steganopus
This is a single speies genus.
Wilson's Phalaropes Steganopus tricolor are the only phalarope restricted to the New World. They breed in wetlands in the prairie region of
western North America. They then migrate mainly over land to the high Andes of South America. Photographed at the Avra Valley wastewater treatment plant,
Tucson, Arizona.
Phalaropus
There are 2 species in this genus.
Red Phalaropes Phalaropus fulicaria are the most pelagic of the phalaropes. They breed on the coasts of the Arctic Ocean, then migrate
south to spend the northern winters off west South America and west and southwest Africa. Phalaropes are one of the few species of birds in the world that
have a reversed sexual dimorphism; the females are brighter plumaged than the males. This non-breeding plumaged adult was
photographed at the Green Valley wastewater treatment plant, Green Valley, Arizona.
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