Shorebird calls I : Calidris Sandpipers

Shorebirds are generally quite vocal while flying or feeding, and many have complex songs that are heard on their breeding grounds in the Arctic.


A flock of Semipalmated Sandpipers feeding on mudflats, Cape Cod, MA in August. The low buzzy flight calls are interspersed with laughing threat calls.










threat call










The same calls by birds in spring migration (early June,NJ).




Semipalmated Sandpipers feeding calls. The calls are very similar those of feeding Short-billed Dowitchers, but may be slightly higher (June, NJ).










"Feeding" calls by Semipalmated Sandpiper taking flight (May, NJ).











Feeding flock with threat call at end (June, NJ).




The song of the Semipalmated Sandpiper is like an idling diesel engine. I did not observe the bird making the chip-like calls, but they are presumed to be a Least Tern (June, NJ).










A flock of several hundred Semipalmated Sandpipers taking flight and landing again at Heislerville, NJ in early June. A Semipalmated Plover and Black Skimmer are calling, and note the high-pitched calls of White-rumped Sandpiper on the sonagram.












Calls by a foraging Least Sandpiper {Aug, PA).


A small flock of feeding Least Sandpipers. The calls are softer and higher than those of Semipalmated Sandpipers (May, NJ).


Threat calls by interacting Least Sandpipers, slightly higher than the similar calls of Semipalmated (May, PA).


Threat calls by a pair in flight over Scarborough Marsh (July, ME).








A snippet of song from a migrant White-rumped Sandpiper (June, NJ).














Dunlin, calls from a large foraging flock; the calls sound similar to those of Short-billed Dowitcher and Semipalmated Sandpiper but are less squeaky, and have a different sonagram (May, NJ).









Various calls by a feeding flock (Nov, NJ).



Raspy calls heard from the direction of several foraging Dunlin. At the time of recording I was quite sure they were by the Dunlin, but I haven't seen these calls described anywhere (Mar, NJ).



Dunlin song (June, NJ).

















Various calls by disturbed Purple Sandpiper as bird takes off (Mar, NJ).