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Atlas Results

Least Sandpipers were observed during the breeding season almost exclusively in the Taiga Shield in the northeastern part of the province. One exception is that of a vocalising bird on Cree Lake in Boreal Softwood Shield. While breeding was not confirmed during the atlas, five individuals were observed in courtship displays near Phelps Lake on 29 June 2019. Least Sandpipers outside of the far north were presumed to be migrants or non-breeders.

Excerpts Adapted from the Birds of Saskatchewan:

The tiniest of our native sandpipers, its completely unwebbed (instead of partly webbed) toes distinguish it from the Semipalmated and Western Sandpipers (Godfrey 1986). Viewed through a spotting scope, the greenish-yellow legs and frequent crouching make this "peep? one of the easiest to identify. Nesting from Alaska to Newfoundland, the Least winters from coastal Virginia and Washington south to Chile and Brazil.

In migration this species occurs on sand beaches and mudflats, but it prefers more vegetated shorelines, often in association with the Pectoral Sandpiper. In the far north it breeds in open bogs (Smith 1996).

Least Sandpipers are common spring and fall transients throughout the province. They also breed fairly commonly in subarctic woodland and more rarely in the northern boreal forest (Smith 1996).

Original text by Donald A. Weidl. Text adapted by Daniel J. Sawatzky

Read more about the Least Sandpiper in the Birds of Saskatchewan here.

LeeAnn M. Latremouille

Recommended citation: Latremouille, L. M. 2025. Least Sandpiper in Latremouille, L. M., S. L. Van Wilgenburg, C. B. Jardine, D. Lepage, A. R. Couturier, D. Evans, D. Iles, and K. L. Drake (eds.). 2025. The Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Saskatchewan, 2017-2021. Birds Canada. Saskatoon, Saskatchewan https://sk.birdatlas.ca/accounts/speciesaccount.jsp?sp=LESA&lang=en [09 Nov 2025]