At certain estuaries and interior alkali lakes, flocks of many thousands of these migrants can be observed swirling around over shallow water, landing to frantically feed, before resuming migration.

Falcons often attack Westerns, and their acrobatic, tightly coordinated escape flights are breathtaking to observe.

In winter, these small sandpipers are gray above with white underparts. In breeding plumage they have a rich rufous-chestnut back, cheeks and cap, dark-centered scapulars with rufous-chestnut edges, grayish throats streaked with dark chevrons through the flank, and whitish underparts. Longer-billed females generally are larger than males but are otherwise similar in appearance.

Along the coast of Oregon, the Western sandpiper is the most abundant shorebird in estuaries and along beaches during migration. Generally, larger flocks are seen in fall than in spring. The largest concentrations of migrant birds are usually found at Tillamook Bay, Bandon Marsh and the Columbia River estuary. During winter along the coast, Westerns are occasional to uncommon.

Hear the call of the Western sandpiper

Photo by ©Keith Kohl, ODFW