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Calidris alba

(Pallas, 1764)

Sanderling

G5Secure Found in 19 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
LowThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.102190
Element CodeABNNF11030
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassAves
OrderCharadriiformes
FamilyScolopacidae
GenusCalidris
Other Common Names
Bécasseau sanderling (FR) Maçarico-Branco (PT) Playero Blanco (ES)
Concept Reference
American Ornithologists' Union (AOU). 1998. Check-list of North American birds. Seventh edition. American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C. [as modified by subsequent supplements and corrections published in The Auk]. Also available online: http://www.aou.org/.
Taxonomic Comments
Often placed in monotypic genus Crocethia (AOU 1983).
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2025-10-01
Change Date1996-11-26
Edition Date2025-10-01
Edition AuthorsJue, Dean K. (2014); rev. R. L. Gundy (2025)
Threat ImpactLow
Range Extent>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences81 - 300
Rank Reasons
This species has a circumpolar breeding range and a nonbreeding range that includes coastlines around the world. The population is abundant with many hundreds of thousands of individuals. Breeding occurrences may be threatened by climate change, though are otherwise adequately protected from anthropogenic threats.
Range Extent Comments
The breeding range is circumpolar. In North America, it breeds in northern Alaska, and from Prince Patrick, Lougheed, and northern Ellesmere islands south to northern Mackenzie, western Victoria Island, northern Keewatin, northwestern coast of Hudson Bay, and Southampton and northern Baffin islands, and high arctic Greenland. In Eurasia, it breeds in Spitsbergen, Norway; and the Taymyr Peninsula, Severnaya Zemlya, mouth of the Lena River, and the New Siberian Islands, Russia (Macwhirter et al. 2020)
.
The nonbreeding range includes coastlines of all continents except Antarctica. The northernmost extension of the nonbreeding range in North America includes southern Alaska on the Pacific coast, and Massachusetts on the Atlantic Coast. In Europe, the northernmost extension of the nonbeeding range is Norway and Scotland. By far the largest numbers aggregate on the west coast of South America in Peru and Chile (Morrison and Ross 1989). Delaware Bay is the most important spring stopover in the eastern U.S. (Clark et al. 1993).
Occurrences Comments
There are likely fewer than 300 breeding occurrences.
Threat Impact Comments
Like many shorebirds, this species relies heavily upon a few migratory stopover points where they congregate in high numbers. In addition, they are quite vulnerable to climate change with breeding in the high Arctic (National Audubon Society 2014). Disturbance from beachgoers is an increasing threat which minimizes time spent foraging as birds flee potential predators (Macwhirter et al. 2020).
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Nonbreeding: primarily sandy beaches, less frequently on mud flats and shores of lakes or rivers (AOU 1983) also on exposed reefs (Pratt et al. 1987). Sleeps/loafs on upper beach or on salt pond dike. Nests on dry tundra, in stony locations or areas with low vegetation, within a few hundred meters of wet tundra. Nests on the ground in a shallow depression lined with mosses, leaves, or other plant material.

Ecology

Seen singly, or in small (usually) or large flocks. May defend nonbreeding feeding territory, chasing away other birds.

Reproduction

Breeding begins mid-June to July (may be delayed by snow). Female usually lays 4 eggs; incubation lasts about 24-31 days. Male sometimes incubates first clutch while female lays a second. Nestlings are precocial and downy. Young can fly 17 days after hatching.
Terrestrial Habitats
TundraSand/dune
Palustrine Habitats
Riparian
Other Nations (2)
United StatesN4B,N5N
ProvinceRankNative
ArizonaS2MYes
MississippiS5NYes
DelawareS2NYes
OregonS4NYes
OklahomaS3NYes
FloridaS4NYes
NevadaSNAYes
AlaskaS2BYes
North DakotaSNAYes
IndianaSNAYes
WashingtonS4NYes
WisconsinSNAYes
TennesseeS4NYes
South CarolinaS3NYes
VermontSNAYes
CaliforniaSNRNYes
UtahS3NYes
IllinoisSNAYes
KansasS3NYes
MissouriSNAYes
LouisianaS5NYes
MichiganSNRNYes
OhioSNAYes
Navajo NationS3MYes
New HampshireSNAYes
ConnecticutSNAYes
MinnesotaSNRMYes
GeorgiaS5Yes
District of ColumbiaS1NYes
ColoradoSNAYes
North CarolinaS5NYes
South DakotaSNAYes
MontanaSNAYes
PennsylvaniaS2MYes
New YorkSNRNYes
MaineS4NYes
WyomingS4NYes
KentuckySNAYes
AlabamaS5NYes
HawaiiSNRNYes
Rhode IslandSNAYes
NebraskaSNRNYes
MarylandS3NYes
IdahoS1MYes
MassachusettsS5NYes
TexasS5Yes
ArkansasS3NYes
VirginiaSNRNYes
IowaS3NYes
New MexicoS4NYes
New JerseyS3NYes
CanadaN3B,N4N,N5M
ProvinceRankNative
Northwest TerritoriesS3Yes
OntarioS4MYes
LabradorS3MYes
Prince Edward IslandS3MYes
ManitobaS3MYes
Island of NewfoundlandS2N,S3MYes
NunavutS3BYes
AlbertaS4MYes
Nova ScotiaS2N,S3MYes
New BrunswickS1N,S3MYes
QuebecS4MYes
British ColumbiaS4NYes
Yukon TerritoryS2MYes
SaskatchewanS4MYes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
6 - Human intrusions & disturbanceRestricted (11-30%)Slight or 1-10% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
6.1 - Recreational activitiesRestricted (11-30%)Slight or 1-10% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
11 - Climate change & severe weatherPervasive (71-100%)UnknownModerate - low
11.1 - Habitat shifting & alterationPervasive (71-100%)UnknownModerate - low

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Roadless Areas (19)
Alaska (10)
AreaForestAcres
Copper River WetlandsChugach National Forest85,972
Fidalgo-GravinaChugach National Forest257,968
GravinaTongass National Forest37,381
KartaTongass National Forest52,117
Middle KruzofTongass National Forest14,724
North BaranofTongass National Forest314,089
North KruzofTongass National Forest33,146
RevillaTongass National Forest29,298
South KruzofTongass National Forest55,193
Upper SitukTongass National Forest16,789
California (3)
AreaForestAcres
Black ButteLos Padres National Forest5,116
Glass MountainInyo National Forest52,867
Malduce BuckhornLos Padres National Forest14,177
Idaho (1)
AreaForestAcres
Bear CreekCaribou-Targhee National Forest118,582
Oregon (5)
AreaForestAcres
Maiden PeakDeschutes National Forest26,432
TahkenitchSiuslaw National Forest5,799
TenmileSiuslaw National Forest10,818
Umpqua SpitSiuslaw National Forest2,090
WoahinkSiuslaw National Forest5,309
References (43)
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