About Calidris mauri (Cabanis, 1857)
Adults of this species, the western sandpiper (Calidris mauri), have dark legs and a short, thin, dark bill that becomes even thinner toward the tip. Their upper body is brown, and their underbody is white. The crown of the head is reddish-brown. This small shorebird can be hard to tell apart from other similar tiny shorebirds, especially the semipalmated sandpiper. This challenge is most noticeable when both species are in their plain grey winter plumage. Compared to the semipalmated sandpiper, the western sandpiper grows its winter plumage much earlier in the autumn. Standard measurements for the species are: length between 14–17 cm (5.5–6.7 in), wingspan between 35–37 cm (14–15 in), and weight between 22–35 g (0.78–1.23 oz).
