Baird's sandpiper is a small shorebird. It is among those Calidris species which were formerly sometimes included in the genus Erolia, which was subsumed into the genus Calidris in 1973. The genus name is from Ancient Greek kalidris or skalidris, a term used by Aristotle for some grey-coloured waterside birds. The English name and specific bairdii commemorate Spencer Fullerton Baird, 19th-century naturalist and assistant secretary of the Smithsonian Institution.
Region
Americas
Typical Environment
Breeds on dry, sparsely vegetated Arctic tundra ridges in northern Alaska and the Canadian High Arctic. During migration it uses shorelines, mudflats, alkali flats, short-grass fields, and even drier prairie and agricultural habitats. It is more often found on drier substrates than many other Calidris, frequently foraging on sandy or gravelly margins. In winter it occurs largely in South America, especially the high Andean puna and páramo zones, but also along southern coasts and inland wetlands.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 4500 m
Climate Zone
Other
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Baird's sandpiper is a long-distance migrant that breeds in the Arctic of Alaska and Canada and winters mainly on the high Andean plateaus of South America. It is notable for its very long primary projection, giving it a long-winged, attenuated look compared with similar peeps. On migration it favors relatively dry habitats compared to many other small sandpipers. The species name commemorates Spencer Fullerton Baird of the Smithsonian Institution.
Chicks on the ground, camouflaged
Eggs in a nest
Temperament
social and active
Flight Pattern
strong flier with swift, direct wingbeats
Social Behavior
Breeds in dispersed pairs on the Arctic tundra, nesting in shallow ground scrapes lined with vegetation. Both parents are involved in territory defense and care, and clutches typically contain four eggs. Outside the breeding season it forms loose flocks, often mixing with other small shorebirds at stopover sites.
Migratory Pattern
Seasonal migrant
Song Description
Mostly quiet, giving thin, high tseet and trilled flight calls. Display flights on the breeding grounds include soft, tinkling trills and twittering notes carried over the tundra.
