Dunlin (Calidris alpina) is in the Sandpipers and Allies family (Scolopacidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 19,870 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in May.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: winter visitor. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
Conservation status (iNaturalist): NT.
When to photograph Dunlin: observations by month (U.S.)
About Dunlin
The dunlin (Calidris alpina) is a small wader, sometimes separated with the other "stints" in Erolia. The English name is a dialect form of "dunling", first recorded in 1531–2. It derives from "dun", "dull brown ", with the -ling suffix meaning "concerned with". The genus name is from Ancient Greek kalidris or skalidris, a term used by Aristotle for some grey-coloured waterside birds. The specific alpina is from Latin and means "of high mountains", in this...From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Dunlin by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 4,439 | November | Oct–Apr |
| Texas | 2,334 | April | Apr–May |
| Florida | 2,116 | December | Nov–May |
| New Jersey | 1,164 | May | May–May |
| Washington | 995 | April | Oct–Apr |
| Massachusetts | 846 | November | Sep–Feb |
| South Carolina | 786 | December | Nov–May |
| Ohio | 657 | May | May–May |
| Oregon | 653 | April | Oct–May |
| Delaware | 607 | May | Apr–May |
| New York | 572 | May | May–May |
| Virginia | 501 | May | Apr–May |
| Illinois | 470 | May | May–May |
| North Carolina | 374 | May | Oct–May |
| Maryland | 356 | May | Apr–May |
| Alaska | 303 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Michigan | 292 | May | May–May |
| Louisiana | 254 | April | Apr–May |
| Connecticut | 223 | December | Oct–May |
| Mississippi | 193 | November | Nov–Apr |
| Wisconsin | 185 | May | May–May |
| Alabama | 166 | November | Nov–Dec |
| Georgia | 166 | March | Nov–May |
| Pennsylvania | 148 | May | Apr–May |
| Minnesota | 139 | May | May–May |
| Maine | 121 | October | Sep–Nov |
| Rhode Island | 89 | April | Apr–May |
| Vermont | 85 | October | Sep–Nov |
| Tennessee | 75 | May | Apr–May |
| Missouri | 68 | May | Apr–May |
| Colorado | 59 | November | Oct–Mar |
| Indiana | 54 | May | Apr–May |
| Idaho | 51 | October | Oct–Nov |
| Arizona | 44 | October | Oct–Nov |
| Kansas | 38 | May | Apr–May |
| South Dakota | 32 | May | Apr–May |
| Nebraska | 28 | May | Apr–May |
| New Mexico | 24 | November | Nov–Dec |
| Hawaii | 22 | November | Oct–Nov |
| Iowa | 22 | May | May–May |
| Arkansas | 20 | April | Apr–May |
| Utah | 19 | May | May–May |
| Oklahoma | 15 | May | May–May |
| Nevada | 12 | November | Oct–Dec |
| West Virginia | 12 | November | Oct–Nov |
| North Dakota | 10 | May | May–May |
| Montana | 9 | March | Mar–May |
| New Hampshire | 9 | November | Sep–Dec |
| Kentucky | 8 | May | May–May |
| District of Columbia | 5 | May | Apr–May |
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 Dunlin?
Nationally, May has the most observations, with the main season from October to May.
Where is Dunlin most often seen?
The most observations come from California, Texas, Florida.