Stilt Sandpiper (Calidris himantopus) is in the Sandpipers and Allies family (Scolopacidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 5,909 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in August.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: spring and fall migrant. 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 Stilt Sandpiper: observations by month (U.S.)
About Stilt Sandpiper
The stilt sandpiper (Calidris himantopus or Micropalama himantopus) is a small shorebird. The scientific name is from Ancient Greek. The genus name kalidris or skalidris is a term used by Aristotle for some grey-coloured waterside birds. The specific himantopus means "strap foot" or "thong foot".From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Stilt Sandpiper by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 2,325 | April | Apr–May |
| Florida | 389 | April | Mar–May |
| Kansas | 208 | May | May–May |
| California | 198 | September | Aug–Sep |
| New York | 188 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Illinois | 187 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Ohio | 151 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Louisiana | 150 | April | Apr–May |
| Maryland | 135 | August | Jul–Oct |
| Michigan | 132 | August | Aug–Aug |
| Colorado | 115 | May | May–May |
| New Jersey | 115 | August | Jul–Oct |
| Arizona | 109 | September | Aug–Sep |
| Tennessee | 98 | September | Aug–Sep |
| Massachusetts | 95 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Minnesota | 88 | August | Aug–Aug |
| Oklahoma | 88 | May | Apr–May |
| Wisconsin | 81 | August | Aug–Aug |
| Washington | 75 | September | Aug–Sep |
| Delaware | 66 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Alabama | 65 | April | Apr–May |
| Nebraska | 62 | May | Apr–May |
| North Carolina | 60 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Pennsylvania | 60 | September | Aug–Oct |
| Oregon | 59 | September | Aug–Sep |
| Missouri | 54 | May | May–May |
| Mississippi | 52 | April | Apr–May |
| South Dakota | 50 | May | May–May |
| North Dakota | 46 | May | May–May |
| Indiana | 44 | September | Aug–Sep |
| New Mexico | 43 | May | May–May |
| Vermont | 34 | August | Aug–Oct |
| Virginia | 29 | August | Aug–Aug |
| Montana | 27 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Georgia | 24 | September | Aug–Sep |
| Utah | 24 | May | May–May |
| Kentucky | 23 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Arkansas | 22 | August | Jul–Sep |
| South Carolina | 22 | May | Mar–May |
| Connecticut | 20 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Alaska | 16 | June | May–Jun |
| Iowa | 15 | May | May–May |
| Wyoming | 15 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Idaho | 11 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Maine | 10 | September | Jul–Sep |
| Rhode Island | 9 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Nevada | 6 | August | Jul–Aug |
| West Virginia | 6 | August | Aug–Sep |
| New Hampshire | 5 | August | 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 Stilt Sandpiper?
Nationally, August has the most observations, with the main season from July to September.
Where is Stilt Sandpiper most often seen?
The most observations come from Texas, Florida, Kansas.