Pectoral Sandpiper

About This Species

A medium-sized sandpiper with heavily streaked breast and sharp demarcation at the belly, the Pectoral Sandpiper is a long-distance migrant that breeds in the Arctic tundra.

Fun Facts

• Incredible migration: Some travel over 18,000 miles annually between Arctic breeding grounds and South America.
• Display flights: Males perform elaborate aerial displays while inflating air sacs in their chests during breeding.
• Breast streaking: Sharp cutoff between streaked breast and white belly is a key identification feature.
• Grassland preference: Unlike most sandpipers, prefers grassy marshes and wet meadows over mudflats.