A small, squat shorebird of Pacific rocky coastal areas. Alternate Adult has black belly patch, grayish wings, rufous back with black-centered feathers, white underparts and buffy neck with fine black streaks, short dark legs, and relatively long, slightly drooping dark bill. Basic Adult is grayish overall with gray streaks on white underparts. Juvenile has extensively rufous-edged feathers above and rufous wash on neck. Very similar to Purple Sandpiper of Atlantic, but ranges do not overlap.

Length: 23 (cm) Wingspan: 43 (cm)

Voice:

Soft, harsh, chittering and tweeting notes.

Habitat:

Breeds on open tundra; winters in rocky coastal zones.

Behavior:

Nest is a depression on tundra ground. In winter, often joins flocks of Black Turnstones and Surfbirds on rocky jetties.

Feeding:

Forages along surf line in rocky areas. Eats a variety of small aquatic organisms and algae.