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Manatee County

Audubon Society

Sanderling

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Name

Sanderling

Scientific Name

(Calidris alba)

Why they are special:
  • One of Florida’s most familiar and energetic shorebirds, famous for running along the surf line chasing waves.

  • Easily recognized by its small size, pale color, and constant motion.
Size and color:
  • Small sandpiper, 7–8 inches long with a wingspan of 14–17 inches.

  • Non-breeding: pale gray above, white below, black legs and bill.

  • Breeding adults: mottled brown upperparts with white underparts.

Seasonality in Florida:
  • Winter visitor and migration stopover.
Habitat:
  • Sandy beaches, tidal flats, and exposed sandbars.

  • Often found in flocks at the water’s edge, chasing receding waves for prey.

Diet:
  • Feed on small crustaceans, marine worms, and insects.

  • Forages by sight, probing sand rapidly as waves retreat.

Behavior:
  • Highly active; constantly running, stopping, and probing along wet sand.

  • Forms flocks that move as a unit with the tide.

Conservation notes:
  • Populations are stable, but beach erosion and human disturbance can affect feeding areas.

Best time to see:
  • Winter and migration, especially along Gulf and Atlantic coasts during low tide.

Fun Fact:
  • Sanderlings are remarkable for synchronizing their movement with waves, giving the appearance of a perfectly choreographed “wave dance.”
MANATEE COUNTY WEATHER

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