Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
This species has a very large geographic range size (extent of occurrence >23 million km2 in both the breeding and non-breeding seasons), and so does not approach Criterion B thresholds. It also has a large estimated population size (660,000 mature individuals; Partners in Flight 2023), and so does not approach Criteria C or D thresholds. Considering its population trend over three generations (c. 11 years), the data presented in Smith et al. (2023) indicate a slow decline of c. 4%, albeit with interannual fluctuations. This is broadly consistent with the c. 11% decline recorded by the Breeding Bird Survey (Ziolkowski et al. 2022), as part of a long-term decline. Conversely, data from the Christmas Bird Count (Meehan et al. 2022) indicate a stable non-breeding population in the southern USA (following a slow long-term increase there, possibly due to short-stopping under climate change), while eBird (Fink et al. 2023) suggests a c. 6% increase on the breeding grounds. The overall population trend is therefore considered stable, and certainly is not declining rapidly. It therefore does not approach Criterion A thresholds, and the species continues to warrant listing as Least Concern.
Population justification
The species has a large estimated population size of 660,000 mature individuals (Partners in Flight 2023).
Trend justification
Considering this species' population trend over three generations (c. 11 years), the data presented in Smith et al. (2023) indicate a slow decline of c. 4%, albeit with interannual fluctuations. This is broadly consistent with the c. 11% decline recorded by the Breeding Bird Survey (Ziolkowski et al. 2022), as part of a long-term decline. Conversely, data from the Christmas Bird Count (Meehan et al. 2022) indicate a stable non-breeding population in the southern USA (following a slow long-term increase there, possibly due to short-stopping under climate change), while eBird (Fink et al. 2023) suggests a c. 6% increase on the breeding grounds. Overall the trend is suspected to be probably stable.
This species nests in diverse habitats, including shorelines, sagebrush, grasslands, and forests, at altitudes from sea level to 4,700 metres. It often breeds in arid regions but only near water. Females typically defend territories that encompass a shoreline (stream or lake) for foraging, drinking, bathing, and displaying; semi open areas for nesting; and dense vegetation patches for brood cover (Reed et al. 2020).
Like many shorebirds, A. macularius is likely threatened by climate change due to shifts in temperature, altered precipitation patterns, and the increasing frequency and severity of extreme weather events. Indirect effects, such as changes in land use, prey availability, phenological mismatches, and increased susceptibility to disease and parasitism, also may pose risks (Sutherland et al. 2012). However, Galbraith et al. (2014) assessed the species as being of 'Low Concern' based on changes in breeding, wintering, and migration habitat, degree of specialism, migration distance, and ecological synchronicity.
Text account compilers
Ekstrom, J., Chad, E., Butchart, S.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularius. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/spotted-sandpiper-actitis-macularius on 22/11/2024.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 22/11/2024.