Baird's Sandpiper (Calidris bairdii) is in the Sandpipers and Allies family (Scolopacidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 4,829 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in August.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: seasonal. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Baird's Sandpiper: observations by month (U.S.)
About Baird's Sandpiper
Baird's sandpiper (Calidris bairdii) is a small shorebird. It is among those calidrids which were formerly 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.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Baird's Sandpiper by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 948 | April | Apr–May |
| California | 551 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Colorado | 305 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Oregon | 273 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Kansas | 269 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Arizona | 264 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Washington | 212 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Michigan | 175 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Oklahoma | 151 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Illinois | 118 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Montana | 115 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Ohio | 111 | August | Aug–Sep |
| New York | 102 | September | Aug–Sep |
| Minnesota | 99 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Nebraska | 92 | April | Apr–Apr |
| New Mexico | 90 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Wyoming | 86 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Idaho | 78 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Wisconsin | 73 | August | Aug–Aug |
| Alaska | 64 | June | May–Jun |
| Utah | 62 | September | Aug–Sep |
| South Dakota | 59 | April | Apr–May |
| Maryland | 54 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Massachusetts | 49 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Vermont | 44 | August | Aug–Sep |
| New Jersey | 38 | September | Aug–Sep |
| Florida | 37 | September | Sep–Oct |
| North Dakota | 34 | May | Apr–May |
| Missouri | 31 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Pennsylvania | 29 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Maine | 25 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Indiana | 22 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Louisiana | 21 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Tennessee | 21 | August | Aug–Oct |
| Nevada | 14 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Mississippi | 12 | September | Sep–Sep |
| Alabama | 11 | September | Sep–Sep |
| Arkansas | 11 | August | Aug–Aug |
| Virginia | 11 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Connecticut | 10 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Iowa | 10 | April | Mar–May |
| North Carolina | 10 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Kentucky | 9 | August | Aug–Aug |
| Rhode Island | 9 | September | Sep–Sep |
| New Hampshire | 7 | August | Jul–Nov |
| Georgia | 6 | September | Aug–Sep |
| West Virginia | 6 | September | Aug–Sep |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related birds (Sandpipers and Allies)
Willet
Sanderling
Least Sandpiper
Spotted Sandpiper
Greater Yellowlegs
Ruddy Turnstone
Marbled Godwit
Long-billed Curlew
Photography tips
- Use a fast shutter (1/2000 s or faster) for birds in flight.
- Focus on the eye and shoot at the bird's eye level.
- Approach slowly and stop if the bird changes behavior; never bait or flush birds.
- Morning activity peaks in the first two hours after sunrise.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Baird's Sandpiper?
Nationally, August has the most observations, with the main season from August to September.
Where is Baird's Sandpiper most often seen?
The most observations come from Texas, California, Colorado.