I spotted this Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius) on Monday at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. There are a lot of sandpipers that are similar in appearance, so I was not sure what kind it was when I took these shots. As I looked through my bird identification guide, however, I realized that the spots on the bird’s chest and the orange bill made it quite easy to identify, because these traits are distinctive for breeding Spotted Sandpipers.
I was intrigued to learn on the Cornell Lab of Ornithology website that the female Spotted Sandpiper is the one who establishes and defends the territory—she arrives at the breeding grounds earlier than the male, unlike in other species of migratory birds, where the male establishes the territory and arrives earlier. More amazingly, the male of this species takes the primary role in parental care, incubating the eggs and taking care of the young. Wow!
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
Lovely photos. I like the second one with the leaf curled like a fancy bowtie near the Sandpiper.
Thanks, Suzette. I love the thought of the fancy bowtie and smiled when I looked at the photo with that image in my mind. 🙂
😊
Those spots really are distinctive. I don’t remember ever seeing something like that, and I found the reason on the Cornell maps. They’re non-breeding here, and wouldn’t show those spots.
When the Spotted Sandpipers are in non-breeding plumage, they looks like a whole lot of other shore birds. Fortunately I don’t photograph shore birds very often or I might get a little frustrated with identification woes. 🙂
Thanks for that info. Didn’t know any of that. 😁
Lovely shots Michael.
Enjoy the weekend.