Solitary Sandpiper (Tringa solitaria) is in the Sandpipers and Allies family (Scolopacidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 20,339 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in May.
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 Solitary Sandpiper: observations by month (U.S.)
About Solitary Sandpiper
The solitary sandpiper (Tringa solitaria) is a small shorebird. The genus name Tringa is the New Latin name given to the green sandpiper by Aldrovandus in 1599 based on Ancient Greek trungas, a thrush-sized, white-rumped, tail-bobbing wading bird mentioned by Aristotle. The specific solitaria is Latin for "solitary" from solus, "alone".From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Solitary Sandpiper by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 2,481 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Illinois | 1,502 | May | Apr–May |
| Ohio | 1,309 | May | Apr–May |
| Maryland | 1,283 | May | Apr–May |
| Virginia | 1,062 | May | Apr–May |
| Florida | 1,050 | April | Apr–May |
| New York | 1,031 | May | May–May |
| Pennsylvania | 909 | May | Apr–May |
| California | 659 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Wisconsin | 595 | May | Apr–May |
| Michigan | 586 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Minnesota | 578 | May | May–May |
| Massachusetts | 573 | May | May–May |
| North Carolina | 482 | April | Apr–May |
| Vermont | 468 | May | May–May |
| Indiana | 436 | April | Apr–May |
| New Jersey | 435 | May | May–May |
| Tennessee | 423 | April | Apr–May |
| Colorado | 296 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Louisiana | 278 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Georgia | 261 | April | Apr–May |
| Maine | 232 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Missouri | 215 | April | Apr–May |
| Washington | 211 | August | Aug–Aug |
| Arizona | 206 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Alabama | 200 | April | Apr–May |
| Oregon | 187 | August | Aug–Sep |
| South Carolina | 176 | April | Apr–May |
| New Hampshire | 159 | May | May–May |
| Oklahoma | 155 | April | Apr–May |
| Alaska | 153 | July | May–Aug |
| Montana | 152 | August | Jul–Sep |
| West Virginia | 151 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Kansas | 143 | April | Apr–May |
| New Mexico | 131 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Arkansas | 129 | April | Apr–May |
| Connecticut | 129 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Kentucky | 123 | April | Apr–May |
| Iowa | 120 | May | Apr–May |
| Mississippi | 95 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Nebraska | 93 | May | Apr–May |
| Utah | 77 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Idaho | 72 | August | Aug–Aug |
| Delaware | 65 | May | May–May |
| Wyoming | 57 | August | Jul–Sep |
| District of Columbia | 53 | May | Apr–May |
| North Dakota | 44 | May | May–May |
| South Dakota | 44 | May | Apr–May |
| Nevada | 38 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Rhode Island | 27 | September | Jul–Sep |
| Hawaii | 5 | September | Aug–Oct |
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 Solitary Sandpiper?
Nationally, May has the most observations, with the main season from April to May.
Where is Solitary Sandpiper most often seen?
The most observations come from Texas, Illinois, Ohio.