The Spotted sandpiper (Actitis macularia) is brown above and white below with dark brown spots on its chest and belly. It has a white line over its eyes, an orange bill with a black tip and long yellowish or pinkish legs. Males and females look alike, but the female is a little larger. In winter, the breast is not spotted and is plain white. The Spotted Sandpiper is the most widespread breeding sandpiper in North America. As they forage, they can be recognised by their constant nodding and teetering which gets faster when the bird is nervous, but stops when the bird is alarmed, aggressive, or courting. It is sometimes called the teeter-tail.
