 Breeding evidence |
 Relative abundance |
 Probability of observation |
Click for a larger version or to add map overlays |
||
Click on plot to view table of mean abundance
|
Number of squares
Long-term BBS trends
|
-2.14 (-3.04 - -1.26)|
Mean abundance (number of birds detected per 5 min. point count) and percentage of squares occupied by region Bird Conservation Regions [abund. plot]
[%squares plot]
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Atlas Results
Spotted Sandpipers were observed across the province with sightings in 947 squares. North of the Mid-Boreal ecoregions, Spotted Sandpipers were regularly encountered on river and lake expeditions, which naturally see atlassers traversing large swaths of suitable shoreline habitat and can be seen on the Breeding Evidence Map. South of the boreal forest, Spotted Sandpipers were generally widespread and were found not only along the shores of lakes and rivers, but also near smaller wetlands. It is possible that the drought conditions experienced during the survey years increased the availability of suitable Spotted Sandpiper habitat in the southern regions of the province, as receding water levels would have exposed otherwise flooded shorelines in deep wetlands.
Note: During all years of the Saskatchewan Breeding Bird Atlas drought conditions persisted and the Atlas range maps for all waterfowl, waterbirds, and wetland-associated species should be viewed as characteristic of distribution and abundance during dry conditions. Read the full drought statement here.
Excerpts Adapted from the Birds of Saskatchewan:
Spotted Sandpiper characteristically teeters, bobbing its body up and down, more rapidly when excited, (Taverner 1940) this along with shallow stiff-winged flight are distinctive behaviours. Oring et al. (1997) described its behaviour as "classic polyandry,? a mating system in which the female mates with up to 4 males, each of which cares for a clutch and brood. The most widespread sandpiper in Canada, breeds across the country and in the northern US, and winters from the southern US to southern South America.
During migration and nesting, the Spotted Sandpiper is a denizen of lakes, ponds, rivers, creeks, and artificial sites such as dams, dugouts, and canals. Marshes and bogs without at least some barren shoreline are avoided.
The Spotted Sandpiper is a common summer resident of the well-watered north, but an uncommon and local summer resident of the parklands and grasslands (Smith 1996).
Original text by Frank H. Switzer. Text adapted by Daniel J. Sawatzky
Read more about the Spotted Sandpiper in the Birds of Saskatchewan here.
Recommended citation: Latremouille, L. M. 2025. Spotted 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=SPSA&lang=en [14 Nov 2025]
| Previous species: Wilson's Phalarope | Table of Contents | Next species: Solitary Sandpiper |