The solitary sandpiper is a small shorebird. The genus name Tringa is the Neo-Latin name given to the green sandpiper by Aldrovandus in 1599 based on Ancient Greek trungas, a thrush-sized, white-rumped, tail-bobbing wading bird mentioned by Aristotle. The specific solitaria is Latin for "solitary" from solus, "alone".
Region
Americas
Typical Environment
Breeds across the boreal forests of Alaska and Canada, favoring wetlands within coniferous and mixed woodlands. During migration and winter it ranges through the United States, the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, and much of northern and central South America. It is strongly tied to freshwater habitats, using wooded ponds, beaver impoundments, quiet river margins, and flooded fields. On the wintering grounds it frequents shaded streams, oxbows, and forest pools, typically away from wave-exposed coasts.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 2500 m
Climate Zone
Other
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Unlike most shorebirds, the solitary sandpiper often nests in abandoned songbird nests high in trees. It tends to forage alone along quiet freshwater edges and frequently bobs its tail when alarmed. During migration it is more often found at inland ponds and woodland pools than on open coastlines.
Hunting behaviour
Foraging on a mud-flat
Temperament
solitary and wary
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Typically forages alone or in very small loose aggregations at rich feeding spots. Unique among North American shorebirds in nesting in abandoned arboreal nests of passerines such as thrushes. Pairs are seasonal and both adults attend the nest; chicks leave the nest soon after hatching and feed themselves. On the ground it bobs its tail and flicks its wings when alerted.
Migratory Pattern
Seasonal migrant
Song Description
Most often gives a clear, whistled call of one to three notes, often rendered as 'peet-weet' or 'peet-weet-weet' when flushed. Song is seldom heard, consisting of soft, repeated whistles during courtship and territory displays.
Plumage
Dark olive-brown upperparts densely spangled with small white spots, clean white underparts, and a lightly streaked breast; tail and rump are dark with fine barring and no white rump patch.
Diet
Feeds primarily on aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates such as insects, insect larvae, small crustaceans, worms, and spiders. It picks prey from the surface of mud and shallow water and also probes lightly in soft substrates. Occasionally takes tiny amphibians or other small prey when available.
Preferred Environment
Forages along quiet freshwater margins—woodland pools, beaver ponds, slow streams, marshy edges, and flooded ditches. It avoids surf and open sandy beaches, preferring shaded or vegetated shorelines with soft mud or leaf litter.
