Sanderlings at Fort Desoto Park, Pinellas County, Florida

These shorebirds are called Sanderlings and are usually the smallest shorebirds you'll see out on the gulf beach. They are usually seen in small flocks. Their characteristic behavior is following the surge of the waves as it runs up the beach and back down. They always seem to stay just ahead of the waves. They have a very white underside, a black bill, black legs, and a dark shoulder patch. The Least sandpiper is smaller but isn't usually found on the sandy beaches of the Gulf of Mexico. Sanderlings look especially small when seen next to a Willet, and their whiteness differentiates them from other small shorebirds, as does their wave-chasing behavior. When approached on the beach they will usually run rather than fly. When they fly, the whole flock usually takes off all at once.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Sanderling
• shorebird
• sandpiper