Western sandpiper
| Western sandpiper | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Charadriiformes |
| Family: | Scolopacidae |
| Genus: | Calidris |
| Species: | C. mauri
|
| Binomial name | |
| Calidris mauri (Cabanis, 1857)
| |
| Synonyms | |
|
Ereunetes mauri | |
The western sandpiper (Calidris mauri) is a small migratory shorebird. The genus name is from Ancient Greek kalidris or skalidris, a term used by Aristotle for some grey-coloured waterside birds. The specific mauri commemorates Italian botanist Ernesto Mauri (1791–1836).
This is one of the most abundant shorebird species in North America, with a population in the millions.
Within the genus Calidris the western sandpiper is most closely related to the semipalmated sandpiper (Calidris pusilla).