Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius) is in the Sandpipers and Allies family (Scolopacidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 46,696 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 Spotted Sandpiper: observations by month (U.S.)
About Spotted Sandpiper
The spotted sandpiper (Actitis macularius) is a small shorebird, 18–20 cm (7.1–7.9 in) long. The genus name Actitis is from Ancient Greek aktites, "coast-dweller", derived from akte, "coast", and macularius is Latin from macula, "spot".From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Spotted Sandpiper by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 11,776 | January | Jul–May |
| Texas | 7,193 | April | Apr–May |
| Florida | 3,314 | April | Aug–May |
| Illinois | 1,811 | May | Apr–Aug |
| Oregon | 1,379 | May | May–Aug |
| New York | 1,289 | May | May–May |
| Ohio | 1,240 | May | Apr–May |
| Maryland | 1,063 | May | May–May |
| Washington | 1,051 | July | May–Aug |
| Arizona | 1,015 | May | Apr–May |
| Colorado | 993 | May | May–Aug |
| Virginia | 926 | May | Apr–May |
| Pennsylvania | 826 | May | Apr–May |
| Michigan | 805 | May | May–Aug |
| Massachusetts | 800 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Minnesota | 723 | May | May–Aug |
| Wisconsin | 645 | May | May–May |
| North Carolina | 624 | May | Apr–May |
| Vermont | 581 | May | May–Aug |
| Maine | 532 | August | May–Sep |
| Utah | 482 | May | May–Aug |
| Montana | 476 | July | May–Aug |
| New Jersey | 450 | May | May–May |
| Georgia | 447 | May | Apr–May |
| Wyoming | 416 | July | May–Aug |
| Idaho | 403 | July | May–Aug |
| Louisiana | 395 | April | Apr–May |
| Alaska | 389 | July | May–Aug |
| Tennessee | 363 | May | Apr–May |
| Oklahoma | 359 | May | Apr–May |
| South Carolina | 357 | May | Apr–May |
| New Mexico | 327 | May | Apr–May |
| Connecticut | 314 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Nevada | 313 | May | Apr–May |
| Indiana | 258 | May | Apr–May |
| Kansas | 258 | May | Apr–May |
| New Hampshire | 243 | May | May–Aug |
| Alabama | 228 | May | Apr–May |
| Missouri | 216 | May | Apr–May |
| Arkansas | 182 | May | Apr–May |
| Nebraska | 180 | May | May–May |
| Delaware | 158 | May | May–May |
| South Dakota | 145 | May | May–May |
| Iowa | 132 | May | May–May |
| Mississippi | 127 | April | Mar–May |
| Rhode Island | 125 | August | Jul–Sep |
| West Virginia | 124 | May | Apr–May |
| Kentucky | 104 | May | Apr–May |
| North Dakota | 69 | May | May–Aug |
| District of Columbia | 58 | May | Apr–May |
| Hawaii | 12 | September | Aug–Apr |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related birds (Sandpipers and Allies)
Willet
Sanderling
Least Sandpiper
Greater Yellowlegs
Ruddy Turnstone
Marbled Godwit
Long-billed Curlew
Hudsonian Whimbrel
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 Spotted Sandpiper?
Nationally, May has the most observations, with the main season from April to May.
Where is Spotted Sandpiper most often seen?
The most observations come from California, Texas, Florida.