Baird’s Sandpiper

(Calidris Bairdii) (BASA)

Photographic Identification Guide

Five species of small Calidris sandpipers, referred to as “peeps,” occur in New England:

Three smaller species: Least, Semipalmated and Western Sandpipers.
Two slightly larger species: White-rumped and Baird’s Sandpipers.

Due to its main migration route through the center of the continent, Baird’s is by far the least well known of the five in New England, mostly known by its occasional appearance as a juvenile in the fall. However, it is well worth learning its various plumages.

In this guide, we cover the features, in order of importance, to look for on these birds. When discussing plumages, we use the terms winter, spring, and summer to refer to northern hemisphere temperate zone seasons. Because most of these birds spend parts of the year in the northern and southern hemispheres, we also use the correct technical terms for the plumage stages—basic and alternate—to help avoid the confusion of seasonal terminology.

visual gallery

species account

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Fig. 1. Baird's Sandpiper. Winter (basic) plumage with medium gray brown on back (mantle) is rarely seen in the northern hemisphere. Bio-bio, Chile. 26 January 2025.
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Fig. 2. Baird's Sandpiper. Breeding adults in spring (alternate) plumage migrate through the center of the continent and are rarely seen in New England. Quivira National Wildlife Refuge, Kansas. 20 April 2014.
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Fig. 6. Baird's Sandpiper. Juvenile. Note dark legs and bill, conspicuous scaly pattern on back (mantle) due to wide pale feather margins. Winthrop Beach, Winthrop, MA. 19 September 2024.
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Fig. 10. Comparison of White-rumped Sandpiper with Baird's Sandpiper. Note differences in back (mantle) color, bib color and bill shape. Magallanes, Chile. 21 November 2024.
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Fig. 15. Comparison of Baird's Sandpiper with Semipalmated Sandpiper. Arrows point to palmation (webbing) between Semipalmated’s toes. Lincoln, WI. 11 August 2023.
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Fig. 11. Comparison of Baird's Sandpiper with Pectoral Sandpiper. Note differences in leg color, back (mantle) color. Lincoln, WI. 11 August 2023.
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Fig. 12. Baird's Sandpiper, molting to spring (alternate) plumage, with a group of Least Sandpipers. Note Least Sandpiper molting to colorful alternate plumage (arrow). Hornsby Bend, Austin, TX. 2 April 2024.
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Fig. 13. Comparison of Baird's Sandpiper with Least Sandpiper, both in juvenile plumage. Note prominent parallel scapular V-lines (arrows) on Least. Winthrop Beach, Winthrop, MA. 19 September 2024.
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Fig. 14. Comparison of Baird's, Least and Semipalmated sandpipers, all juveniles. Note color and back (mantle) pattern differences. Whiteman, WA. 1 September 2023.
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Fig. 7. Baird's Sandpiper. Juvenile with golden plumage on head and breast. Winthrop Beach, Winthrop, MA. 11 September 2019.
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Fig. 8. Baird's Sandpiper displaying underwing color pattern. Valparaiso, Chile. 27 October 2024.
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Fig. 9. Comparison of Baird's Sandpiper with White-rumped Sandpiper juveniles. Winthrop Beach, Winthrop, MA. BASA 19 September 2024; WRSA 18 October 2020.
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Fig. 3. Baird's Sandpipers in flight. Note long wings, clearcut buffy bib. Yukon Territory, Canada. 22 May 2022.
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Fig. 4. Baird's Sandpiper. Breeding adult, summer (alternate) plumage. Breast displays buff wash and coarse, crisp streaks. Kitikmeot, Nunavut, Canada. 8 July 2024.
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Fig. 5. Baird's Sandpiper. Fall molting adult with salt-and-pepper transitional plumage. Arequipa, Peru. 1 September 2024.

The photos in this species account are arranged in this order:

Basic: winter plumage, roughly late October to early March.

Baird’s Sandpiper adults begin molting to winter (basic) plumage in summer, suspend the molt during migration, then resume molting once on or close to the wintering grounds in South America. Basic-plumaged birds are found south of the United States border in winter; see Fig. 1.

Alternate: first spring and summer after hatch year or adult breeding plumage, March to October.

Beginning in spring, winter (basic) feathers on Baird’s Sandpiper are gradually replaced by spring and summer (alternate) feathers; see Fig. 2.

Juvenile: young birds, recently hatched, August to October; see Fig. 6.

These feathers are acquired on the breeding grounds immediately after the natal down is shed and before the young begin their southbound migration.

Size and weight

Body length:

5.75–7.25 in. (14–18 cm)

Wingspan:

16–18.5 in. (41–47 cm)

Bill length:

0.8–1 in. (20–24 mm)

Weight:

1–2 oz. (28–58 g)

Calls

Baird’s Sandpiper calls are described as a high-pitched, rolled dreet.

Calls in Oruro, Bolivia, 2013:

Calls in Wilcox, AZ, 2019:

Plumage and other characteristics

The two larger peep sandpipers, Baird's and White-rumped, are notably longer-winged than the three smaller peep species, Least, Semipalmated and Western Sandpipers. This is likely related to the much longer migrations undertaken by the two larger peeps.

Baird's Sandpiper’s wingtips project beyond the tail when the bird is on the ground; see Fig. 1, Fig. 6.

Most Baird's Sandpipers appear in New England in juvenile plumage, which is primarily pale buffy gray; see Fig. 6.

In all plumages, Baird's Sandpiper displays a buffy or gray breast band with vertical streaks. The breast band streaks are blurry and ill-defined on juveniles, crisp on adults; see Fig. 4, Fig. 6.

In flight and from a distance, Baird's Sandpiper appears dark overall on the back (mantle) and tail, but the front of the bird has a golden glow, particularly on the juvenile. The upperwings have narrow pale stripes; see Fig. 3, Fig. 7.

Baird's Sandpiper's wings from below are white at the axillars (wingpits), dusky toward the tips; see Fig. 3, Fig, 8.

Baird's Sandpiper's legs and bill are very dark gray or black. The bill is straight and pointed; see Fig. 1, Fig. 4, Fig. 7.

Baird's Sandpiper in winter (basic) plumage has medium gray back (mantle) feathers, each with a central dark shaft. The belly is white. The breast and sometimes the flanks have a gray or buff wash with streaks; see Fig. 1. This plumage is rarely seen in North America.

Beginning in late February, winter (basic) plumage is slowly replaced by spring (alternate) plumage. Fresh spring (alternate) feathers have broad blackish centers and wide pale margins; see Fig. 2, Fig. 4.

Spring (alternate) and summer (alternate) are the same plumage; however, as seasons advance, feather margins become worn and the plumage looks different.

Summer (alternate) plumage starts to molt to winter (basic) plumage by late summer and fall. Baird’s Sandpiper displays a salt-and-pepper appearance as worn, dark, older feathers are replaced with new pale feathers with dark central shafts; see Fig. 5.

Newly fledged young birds arrive in New England from the Arctic in late August or September. They display the characteristic fresh, evenly patterned, scaly look of young shorebirds; see Fig. 6, Fig. 7.

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Breeding range, migration, wintering range, habitat

Baird’s Sandpiper nests close to the northernmost coast of North America in Canada and Alaska. Its breeding range has spread to easternmost Siberia and western Greenland.

Arctic breeding areas for Baird’s Sandpiper consist of drier upland areas or ridges and areas or bare soil, sometimes along lake margins or river bluffs.

In the Arctic, in migration and in winter, Baird’s Sandpiper feeds almost exclusively on adults and larvae of insects. In migration and winter, Baird’s prefers inland habitats, but also river bars, lake shores, overgrown pastures and alfalfa fields. In South America, some individuals winter in elevated habitats in the Andes.

Baird’s Sandpiper is a relatively early migrant in spring and fall. In spring, first arrivals from southern South America appear in the southern United States in early April. Migration of adults heading to nesting grounds is almost exclusively through the middle of the North American continent; very few spring migrants are seen on either coast. Most birds arrive at nesting areas in the Arctic in late May or early June.

Female Baird’s Sandpiper is capable of an unusual metabolic feat: Shortly upon arriving in the Arctic in the spring, having accumulated little or no fat during the northbound journey, it can lay a complete clutch of eggs, usually four, within four days. The mass of these eggs may amount to nearly 120% of her body mass.

Females leave the nesting grounds somewhat earlier than males, often in late July. Most adult females and males reprise their flight path north by stopping in central North American prairie locations or even some upland locations to fatten up, then migrating directly to northern South America. From there, the migration takes them to Tierra del Fuego, adjacent areas and Andean habitats in southern and southwestern South America.

Juveniles leaving the Arctic disperse to the coasts of North America, often arriving in New England in mid to late August. They then travel in a more leisurely manner, ending up in southern South America in late September or early October.

Similar species

Baird’s Sandpiper compared to White-rumped Sandpiper

Baird's Sandpiper (BASA) and White-rumped Sandpiper (WRSA) are long-winged, large peeps that are similar enough to cause confusion; for comparison, see Fig. 9, Fig. 10.

Note the following:

Juvenile Baird's is paler than juvenile White-rump and the back (mantle) feathers are more evenly scaled or scalloped.
Blurry streaking on a distinct buffy breast band is characteristic of juvenile Baird's. Juvenile White-rump has streaking and vermiculation on the pale or grayish breast; streaks often extend along the flanks.
Baird's has a golden glow about the head and breast. White-rump looks gray-hooded.
Baird's Sandpiper's bill is thin, tapered and rather straight. White-rumped Sandpiper’s bill is thick-based, tapered and slightly down-curved.
Baird's Sandpiper's bill is all black. Juvenile White-rumped Sandpiper’s lower mandible usually has a pale or pinkish base.
Juvenile Baird's arrive in New England in late August or September and usually coincide with adult molting White-rumps, which are much darker and have more of a salt-and-pepper plumage versus the evenly scalloped back (mantle) pattern of juvenile Baird's.
Juvenile White-rumps often arrive in New England in late October and are not likely to be on beaches at the same time as Baird's.
Baird's Sandpiper often feeds on the upper, dry part of the beach rather than the wave-washed edge, which is more favored by White-rumped Sandpiper.

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Baird’s Sandpiper compared to Pectoral Sandpiper

Baird's Sandpiper (BASA) is considerably smaller than Pectoral Sandpiper (PESA) and is usually paler, less rusty or rufous than Pectoral; see Fig. 11.

Note the following:

Baird's Sandpiper's legs are black. Pectoral Sandpiper's legs are pale–yellowish, pale green or even orange.
Baird's has a distinct buffy breast band with streaks, which ends abruptly at the belly in a straight line. Pectoral Sandpiper's pale breast has rich brown or rufous streaks that extend nearly to the belly. Pectoral's bib terminates in a distinct V, particularly noticeable in a spring or summer (alternate) plumaged bird.
Baird's Sandpiper's bill is black. Pectoral Sandpiper's bill is usually pale at the base.
Baird's Sandpiper prefers drier habitat, even upland areas. Pectoral Sandpiper is a mud-peep, preferring wet spots in marshes and swamps.
Baird's Sandpiper's folded wings extend beyond the tail. Pectoral's wingtips are even with or slightly shorter than the tail.

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Baird’s Sandpiper compared to Least Sandpiper

Baird's Sandpiper (BASA) is considerably larger than Least Sandpiper (LESA); see Fig. 12, Fig. 14.

Note the following:

Baird's Sandpiper's legs are black. Least Sandpiper's legs are pale–yellowish, pale green or even orange.
Both birds are early spring migrants, but Baird’s is extremely unlikely in New England in spring.
In spring (alternate) plumage, Baird's acquires dark-centered back (mantle) feathers with broad pale margins. Least Sandpiper's alternate mantle plumage is richer, darker and more rufous.
Baird's bill is straight or nearly so, versus the extremely tapered and slightly down-curved bill of Least.
Baird's Sandpiper's folded wings extend beyond the tail. Least Sandpiper's wingtips are even with or slightly shorter than the tail.
In juvenile plumage, the most likely stage for seeing the two species together, note the conspicuous parallel white V-lines on the back (mantle) of Least Sandpiper. These are formed by pale bases to scapular feathers and are often seen on a number of juvenile shorebird species but not on Baird's Sandpiper; see Fig. 13.

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Similar species: Baird’s Sandpiper compared to Semipalmated Sandpiper

In late August and September in New England, Baird's Sandpiper (BASA) sometimes appears in flocks of Semipalmated Sandpipers (SESA). Baird’s is noticeably larger than Semipalmated and looks longer due to its long wings; see Fig. 14.

Note the following:

Baird's Sandpiper in all plumages has a streaked buffy breast band. On Semipalmated Sandpiper, breast sides are streaked but breast center is often pale.
The buffy breast and head on Baird's Sandpiper juvenile appear somewhat golden at a distance and contrasts with the grayer back. Juvenile Semipalmated Sandpiper displays an evenly buffy or brownish gray appearance on the upperparts, neck and head.
Baird's Sandpiper's bill tapers to a point. Semipalmated Sandpiper's bill often appears blunt with a bulb at the tip.
When it is possible to see the feet well, the lack of palmation (webbing) between toes is a clear indication that the bird is not a Semipalmated Sandpiper; see Fig. 15.

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