White-rumped Sandpiper

As its name implies, this species is most readily distinguished from other small sandpipers by its completely white rump, a feature best observed in flight. Most similar species have white edges to the tail but a dark area between them. When not in flight, another identification feature is the longer wings of the White-rumped Sandpiper, which extend well beyond the tip of tail than those of the other small “peeps” such as Least and Semipalmated Sandpipers. Longer wings are typically a clue that a bird undertakes a longer migration, since they are more efficient, and the White-rumped Sandpiper follows this adage. It undertakes a fall journey of up to 15,000 miles from the Canadian high arctic to the coast of Argentina, part of which is a 4,000 non-stop jump for New England to South America. This is when we’re most like to see them in New Hampshire, since their spring route takes them north through the Great Plains.