Calidris pusilla
(Linnaeus, 1766)
Semipalmated Sandpiper
G5SecureGlobal Rank
Near threatenedIUCN
© Dorian Anderson; Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay Library
© Cedrik von Briel; Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay Library
© Derek Lecy; Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay Library
© Ryan Sanderson; Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay Library
© Ryan Schain; Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay Library
© Kara Zanni; Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay Library
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, https://www.usa.gov/government-works
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.104508
Element CodeABNNF11040
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNNear threatened
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassAves
OrderCharadriiformes
FamilyScolopacidae
GenusCalidris
Other Common Names
Bécasseau semipalmé (FR) Maçarico-Miúdo (PT) Playero Semipalmeado, Playero Enano (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
C. pusilla and C. mauri are often placed in the genus ereunetes (AOU 1983).
Conservation Status
Rank MethodExpertise without calculation
Review Date2016-04-07
Change Date1996-11-26
Edition Date2014-08-20
Edition AuthorsJue, Dean K.
Range Extent>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences> 300
Rank Reasons
Global populations are still estimated at over 2 million birds
Range Extent Comments
BREEDS: western and northern Alaska, northern Yukon, northrn Mackenzie, Canadian arctic islands (except northernmost), and northern Labrador south to western Alaska, east-central Mackenzie, southeastern Keewatin, northeastern Manitoba, Southampton Island, northern Ontario, northern Quebec, and coastal Labrador. Nonbreeders often spend breeding season in coastal North America south to Gulf Coast, Panama. NORTHERN WINTER: Florida and Bahamas south to West Indies, Atlantic coast of South America (to Paraguay and southern Brazil), and Pacific coast from Guatemala south to northern Chile. Accidental in Hawaii. By far the largest numbers in winter occur on the northern coast of South America, centered on Suriname and the Guianas (Morrison and Ross 1989). Delaware Bay is the most important spring stopover in the eastern U.S. (Clark et al. 1993). The Bay of Fundy is an important staging area during fall migration and is used by perhaps 1-2 million individuals (up to 50-90% of the world population) (Mawhinney et al. 1993).
Occurrences Comments
Based on a population size estimate of two million (Morrison, et. al. 2006), there should be 80 or more EOs. In addition, this species breeds in the high Arctic in the old world as well.
Threat Impact Comments
The primary threat to this species appears to legal and illegal hunting in South America (Hicklin and Gratto-Trevor, 2010). Destruction or manipulation of coastal and inland wetlands may also play a role.
Ecology & Habitat
Habitat
Nonbreeding: mudflats, sandy beaches, shores of lakes and ponds, and wet meadows (AOU 1983). In northern Alaska, postbreeding habitat was mainly coastal mudflats and slough edges (Smith and Connors 1993). Breeds on grassy or dry shrubby tundra, usually near water. In northern Alaska, favored areas with well-drained ridges for nesting and adjacent wet tundra for feeding (see Johnson and Herter 1989). Often returns to nest in natal area or area of previous nesting (Gratto et al. 1985). The nest is a shallow depression, lined with grasses, moss, and leaves. See also Rodrigues (1994).
Ecology
Average territory size 1 ha on breeding grounds in Manitoba (Gratto et al. 1985). Seen in association with least sandpiper, sanderling, and semipalmated plover. Often in large flocks.
Reproduction
Begins breeding late May or early to mid-June. Usually 4 eggs incubated by both sexes, in turn, 18-21.5 days. Young tended by both parents, can fly at 14-19 days. May have same mate in successive years. Breeding population includes some yearlings. Up to 20 nests per sq km in some areas of northern Alaska.
Terrestrial Habitats
Grassland/herbaceousTundraSand/dune
Palustrine Habitats
TEMPORARY POOLRiparian
Other Nations (2)
United StatesN5B
| Province | Rank | Native |
|---|---|---|
| Montana | SNA | Yes |
| Arizona | S2M | Yes |
| North Dakota | SNRM | Yes |
| North Carolina | SNA | Yes |
| Massachusetts | S5N | Yes |
| Arkansas | SNA | Yes |
| Texas | S5 | Yes |
| Delaware | S3N | Yes |
| South Dakota | SNA | Yes |
| Utah | SNA | Yes |
| New Jersey | S3N | Yes |
| Tennessee | S4N | Yes |
| Rhode Island | SNA | Yes |
| Colorado | SNA | Yes |
| Missouri | SNA | Yes |
| Alaska | S4B | Yes |
| Maine | S4N | Yes |
| Ohio | SNA | Yes |
| Mississippi | S4M | Yes |
| South Carolina | S3M | Yes |
| Washington | SNA | Yes |
| Iowa | S4N | Yes |
| California | SNA | Yes |
| Kansas | S4N | Yes |
| Nebraska | SNRN | Yes |
| Illinois | SNA | Yes |
| Minnesota | SNRM | Yes |
| Vermont | SNA | Yes |
| Kentucky | SNA | Yes |
| Oklahoma | SNRN | Yes |
| Michigan | SNRN | Yes |
| Louisiana | S3M | Yes |
| Maryland | SNA | Yes |
| Indiana | SNA | Yes |
| Idaho | S1M | Yes |
| Virginia | SNRN | Yes |
| District of Columbia | S2N | Yes |
| Wisconsin | SNA | Yes |
| Georgia | S3N | Yes |
| New York | SNRN | Yes |
| Alabama | SNRN | Yes |
| Connecticut | SNA | Yes |
| Pennsylvania | S3M | Yes |
| Florida | S4N | Yes |
| New Hampshire | SNA | Yes |
| New Mexico | S3N | Yes |
| Oregon | SNA | Yes |
| West Virginia | SNA | Yes |
| Wyoming | S4N | Yes |
CanadaN4B,N4M
| Province | Rank | Native |
|---|---|---|
| Manitoba | S1B,S4M | Yes |
| Labrador | S2B,S3M | Yes |
| Yukon Territory | S3B | Yes |
| British Columbia | SUM | Yes |
| New Brunswick | S3M | Yes |
| Nova Scotia | S3M | Yes |
| Nunavut | S3B | Yes |
| Ontario | S2B,S4M | Yes |
| Prince Edward Island | S3M | Yes |
| Alberta | SUM | Yes |
| Quebec | S2B | Yes |
| Saskatchewan | SUM | Yes |
| Island of Newfoundland | S3M | Yes |
| Northwest Territories | S4 | Yes |
Threat Assessments
| Threat | Scope | Severity | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 - Climate change & severe weather | Pervasive (71-100%) | Unknown | Low (long-term) |
| 11.1 - Habitat shifting & alteration | Pervasive (71-100%) | Unknown | Low (long-term) |
Roadless Areas (26)
Alaska (3)
| Area | Forest | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| North Baranof | Tongass National Forest | 314,089 |
| Redoubt | Tongass National Forest | 68,347 |
| South Kruzof | Tongass National Forest | 55,193 |
California (1)
| Area | Forest | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Glass Mountain | Inyo National Forest | 52,867 |
Illinois (6)
| Area | Forest | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Burke Branch | Shawnee National Forest | 6,231 |
| Burke Branch | Shawnee National Forest | 6,231 |
| Clear Springs | Shawnee National Forest | 11 |
| Clear Springs | Shawnee National Forest | 11 |
| Ripple Hollow | Shawnee National Forest | 3,788 |
| Ripple Hollow | Shawnee National Forest | 3,788 |
Montana (3)
| Area | Forest | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Bmss Ra 1485 | Flathead National Forest | 334,275 |
| Cube Iron - Silcox | Lolo National Forest | 36,998 |
| Nevada Mountain | Helena National Forest | 50,135 |
New Hampshire (2)
| Area | Forest | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Wild River | White Mountain National Forest | 46,878 |
| Wild River | White Mountain National Forest | 46,878 |
North Carolina (3)
| Area | Forest | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Pocosin Addition | Croatan National Forest | 286 |
| Pocosin Addition | Croatan National Forest | 286 |
| Sheep Ridge Addition | Croatan National Forest | 5,808 |
Oregon (1)
| Area | Forest | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Tahkenitch | Siuslaw National Forest | 5,799 |
South Carolina (2)
| Area | Forest | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Wambaw Ext | Francis Marion National Forest | 527 |
| Wambaw Ext | Francis Marion National Forest | 527 |
Utah (1)
| Area | Forest | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Wellsville | Wasatch-Cache National Forest | 1,717 |
Vermont (2)
| Area | Forest | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Griffith Lake 09084 | Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests | 1,833 |
| Griffith Lake 09084 | Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests | 1,833 |
Washington (2)
| Area | Forest | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Grassy Top | Colville National Forest | 10,302 |
| Grassy Top | Idaho Panhandle National Forests | 13,485 |
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