Shorebird ID can be tricky on a good day. But then there are the peeps. Yeah, they definitely look very much alike. Very. Much. Alike! But there are tricks and tips for differentiating between species. Let’s talk about the Least and Semipalmated Sandpipers.

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The Least Sandpiper is slightly smaller, with a thinner bill that has a slight curve to it. Good luck seeing that curve, ha! They also have yellow legs.

 

The Semipalmated Sandpiper is slightly larger, with a stouter bill. (I am one of those people who can see the difference between a “stouter” bill and a “thinner, slightly curved” bill when staring at them in a guide - or in these photos. Put me in the field, and a bill is a bill is a bill—unless it’s a Dowitcher or something fun like that.)

Their legs are black, and check out the feet on a Semipalmated—they are named “semipalmated” because of the small webs between their toes. Did you know that “palmated” means webbed? Neither did I—until I became a birder!

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Honestly, I’m going to give you the simplest way to tell them apart: look at the legs—bearing in mind that a Least’s legs can look dark if they’ve been foraging in mud.

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This is my philosophy when it comes to shorebirds: even if I am unable to pick out and identify specific species among the 300 or so birds tightly flocked together in front of me, the experience of watching them all take off in unison, circle around, and then settle back in is nothing short of a magical spectacle.

Try to learn to identify them—but don’t knock yourself over the head if it’s tough for you. Just enjoy them. Birding is supposed to be fun, and it’s supposed to bring you joy. Always remember that.

 

Also, remember yellow legs vs. black legs!