Flock of Migratory Sandpipers in Flight, Grand View, Virginia - stock photo

A flock of small shorebirds soars through the sky in Grand View, Virginia, possibly consisting of Least Sandpipers (Calidris minutilla) or Pectoral Sandpipers (Calidris melanotos). Both species are known for their incredible migratory journeys, traveling vast distances between their Arctic breeding grounds and wintering areas in the southern United States, Central America, and South America. Least Sandpipers are identifiable by their petite size and yellowish legs, while Pectoral Sandpipers are slightly larger, with streaked brown breasts contrasting sharply with their white bellies. These sandpipers often migrate in synchronized flocks, relying on wetland stopovers like those near the Chesapeake Bay to rest and refuel. The image captures the beauty and precision of their flight as they navigate their migratory routes.