In all plumages, Western Sandpiper is distinguished from the similar Semipalmated Sandpiper by its long tapering bill with a slight droop at the tip. The female's bill is noticeably longer than the male's. Western and Semipalmated Sandpipers are the only stints that have partial webbing between the toes. The bill, legs, and feet are black. The primary projection is short, and the wing tips are about even with the tip of the tail. In flight, the rump and central tail feathers are blackish, while the outer tail feathers appear mostly white. Alternate Adult: The head, nape and back are finely streaked dark brown. The crown and auriculars are washed with rufous. The scapulars are boldly mottled with black and bright rufous. The underparts are white with fine streaks on the breast and rows of chevrons along the sides. Basic Adult: Very plain gray-brown above and white below, with variable amounts of fine streaking on the breast. Juvenile: Gray-brown above, with a line of bright rufous along the scapulars and rufous edges on the tertials. At close range, notice the anchor-shaped dark markings on the lower wing coverts. The underparts are white, with a light buffy wash across the breast and little or no breast streaking. Whitish supercilium may be slightly more apparent than that of adults.

Length: 15 (cm) Wingspan: 30 (cm)

Voice:

Call is a very thin, high jeet.

Habitat:

Nests on tundra and low shrublands. In migration, uses coastal mudflats, beaches, edges of lakes and ponds, freshwater marshes.

Behavior:

Forms very large flocks in migration along West Coast.

Feeding:

May feed in deeper water than other stints. Long bill and heavy build make feeding birds look front-heavy, as if they might fall forward.