Spotted Sandpiper vs Solitary Sandpiper

In short

The Spotted Sandpiper and Solitary Sandpiper can be distinguished by their eye-ring and supercilium: the Solitary has a complete prominent eye-ring and lacks a pale supercilium, whereas the Spotted has an incomplete eye-ring and a pale supercilium. Additionally, the Spotted Sandpiper exhibits a distinctive teetering behavior more frequently than the Solitary.

Identification tips

• Eye-ring and supercilium: Solitary has a complete eye-ring and lacks a pale supercilium; Spotted has an incomplete eye-ring and a pale supercilium.
• Teetering behavior: More frequent in Spotted Sandpiper.
• Plumage: Spotted shows bold spotting on underparts in alternate plumage; Solitary has dotting on back, coverts, and tertials.
• Size: Solitary is slightly larger.
• Flight behavior: Solitary holds wings up when alighting.

Size

The Solitary Sandpiper is slightly larger than the Spotted Sandpiper.

Plumage

The Solitary Sandpiper shows light to heavy dotting on its back, coverts, and tertials, while the Spotted Sandpiper has plain upperparts or barred wing coverts. The Spotted Sandpiper in alternate plumage has bold black spotting on its underparts, which the Solitary lacks.

Behaviour

The Spotted Sandpiper is known for its frequent and obvious teetering behavior, which is less pronounced in the Solitary Sandpiper. When alighting, the Solitary Sandpiper holds its wings straight up before slowly closing them.

Habitat

The Solitary Sandpiper breeds in boreal forests and is often found alone or in small groups during migration, while the Spotted Sandpiper is more widespread across North America.

Voice

The Spotted Sandpiper's flight call is a shrill 'peet-weet' or 'weet-weet-weet', while the Solitary Sandpiper's calls are less documented but generally differ.