Spotted Sandpiper

Actitis macularius May–Oct

Named for the dark markings that appear on its white breast during the breeding season, this bird has brown feathers on top and a white ring around the eye broken by a dark horizontal stripe. It can be found along the shores of all types of water, both fresh and salty. The nesting habits of this sandpiper is rather unique, with the male of the species incubating the eggs and taking care of the young, while the larger female defends their territory. The female is also known to mate with multiple male birds during a single breeding season. They like to forage for food by poking at the ground with their beaks looking for insects, snails, and worms.

This bird has a distinctive bobbing walk, where the tail constantly moves up and down like a see-saw as it goes about its daily activities. It can appear as if the bird is dancing or bobbing, and chicks exhibit this behavior almost as soon as they hatch.