The Spotted Sandpiper has the most widespread breeding range of any North American sandpiper (Reed et al. 2013), breeding across Canada, north to the treeline. This conspicuous shorebird is typically found in sparsely vegetated habitats near water, but uses a wide variety of habitats including grasslands and forest. Results from the Breeding Bird Survey indicate that the Spotted Sandpiper population in Canada has experienced a decrease of almost 50% relative to 1970. Cause of this decline remain unknown. This species has been identified as a priority for conservation and/or stewardship in one or more Bird Conservation Region Strategies in Canada.
Disturbance, habitat loss, and exposure to contaminants are all potential threats to Spotted Sandpiper populations (Reed et al. 2013), but documentation of effects is lacking. Shoreline armoring used to reduce beach erosion may have an impact on the species (Reed et al. 2013).
Environment and Climate Change Canada and partners have developed Bird Conservation Region Strategies in each of Canada’s Bird Conservation Regions (BCRs). In these strategies, selected species are identified as priorities for one or more of the following reasons:
Select any of the sub-regions below to view the BCR strategy for additional details.
