Solitary Sandpiper

The natty Solitary Sandpiper, with its olive-gray wings, black-and-white tail, and bold eyering, is a distinctive exception among the many lookalike sandpipers. Its helpful habit of bobbing the back half of its body or trembling its tail (and often feet) while foraging make it instantly recognizable.

In flight, look for blackish underwings against a white belly, a pattern unique among North American shorebirds.

On migration, it turns up very widely, even in very small or temporary wetlands. Cornell All About Birds