While the mountains of our Costa Rican retreat offer a paradise for an incredible variety of birds, some of our feathered friends are just passing through. Today we meet the Semipalmated Sandpiper, a small globetrotter that graces the beaches of our Pacific coast during its epic migrations.
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A Coastal Bird on the Move
The Semipalmated Sandpiper is a small shorebird, no larger than a robin. Its name reflects its partially webbed feet (semipalmatus in Latin means «half-webbed»). Though brown on the back, it sports a striking bold black breast band and bright orange legs. These features, along with its short, blunt bill (often with an orange base, especially in adults), help birdwatchers identify it among the flocks of shorebirds it frequents.
Finding Food on the Move
A master of mudflats and sandy beaches, the Semipalmated Sandpiper is an opportunistic feeder. Its keen eyes spot small invertebrates on the surface, and its run-and-stop technique with quick pecks makes it an efficient hunter. Here at the retreat, you can watch these busy birds flitting over the exposed sand during low tide on nearby beaches.
A Long Journey
Unlike many of the resident birds you’ll see here in the mountains, the Semipalmated Sandpiper is a true globetrotter. It breeds in the far north, in the Arctic tundra or rocky beaches, before embarking on a long migration south. Costa Rica’s Pacific coast becomes a welcome stopover on its journey to wintering grounds as far as South America. These small birds can cover immense distances – up to 15,000 kilometers in a year!
An Adaptable Nester
Considering their remote breeding areas, you might be surprised to learn that Semipalmated Sandpipers can be surprisingly flexible when it comes to nesting. While they typically choose a scrape in the tundra or a pebble beach, some populations have been known to nest on rooftops and even inside open buildings!
Spotting the Semipalmated Sandpiper
While the mountains are not their preferred habitat, keep an eye out for these small globetrotters if you visit the Pacific coast beaches during their migration season (usually March to May and August to November). Their cheerful whistle and active foraging style might give them away.
Small but Mighty
The next time you see a flock of shorebirds flitting along the beach, take a closer look. You might spot a Semipalmated Sandpiper, a tiny bird with a truly impressive journey. While their stay at our Costa Rican retreat is brief, these little globetrotters add another layer of wonder to the incredible avian diversity of our country.
Para obtener más información, consulte nuestra guía completa sobre las aves de Costa Rica.
