Least Sandpiper - Calidris minutilla

The Least Sandpiper is the smallest sandpiper in the world and it is breeds in Alaska and Canada and winters in southern North America to central South America. They are similar to Wester Sandpipers and can be identified by their yellow legs. Both sexes are similar and they forage on mudflats eating small crustaceans, insects and snails.

I am not sure that I have the breeding/non-breeding classification correct. I did not see the differences as reported in Sibley's book, so I went by the date that I took the picture.

Breeding (April-Sep)

Breeding plumage 04/24/2007 - Cesar Chavez Park; Berkeley, CA Breeding plumage 04/24/2007 - Cesar Chavez Park; Berkeley, CA	04/21/2007 - Hayward Shoreline; Hayward, CA 04/21/2007 - Hayward Shoreline; Hayward, CA	04/21/2007 - Hayward Shoreline; Hayward, CA 04/21/2007 - Hayward Shoreline; Hayward, CA
04/12/2008 - Albany Bulb; Albany, CA 04/12/2008 - Albany Bulb; Albany, CA	04/12/2008 - Albany Bulb; Albany, CA 04/12/2008 - Albany Bulb; Albany, CA

Non-breeding (Oct-March)

12/30/2009 - Martin Luther King Jr Regional Park; Oakland, CA 12/30/2009 - Martin Luther King Jr Regional Park; Oakland, CA	Transitioning to non-breeding plumage 09/24/2009 - Albany Bulb; Albany, CA Transitioning to non-breeding plumage 09/24/2009 - Albany Bulb; Albany, CA	01/11/2007 - Martin Luther King Jr Regional Park; Oakland, CA 01/11/2007 - Martin Luther King Jr Regional Park; Oakland, CA
01/11/2007 - Martin Luther King Jr Regional Park; Oakland, CA 01/11/2007 - Martin Luther King Jr Regional Park; Oakland, CA	10/27/2008 - Kirby Park, Elkhorn Slough, CA 10/27/2008 - Kirby Park, Elkhorn Slough, CA	10/27/2008 - Kirby Park, Elkhorn Slough, CA 10/27/2008 - Kirby Park, Elkhorn Slough, CA
Sanderling in the background 03/12/2009 - Bodega Bay, CA Sanderling in the background 03/12/2009 - Bodega Bay, CA	03/12/2009 - Bodega Bay, CA 03/12/2009 - Bodega Bay, CA

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