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Definition of spotted sandpiper
spotted sandpiper
Plural:spotted sandpipers
spotted sandpiper Lexical Profile
CEFR
C1
Grade
8
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
A small, widespread North American shorebird (Actitis macularius) that frequents freshwater margins and is characterized by a prominently spotted breast during the breeding season and a distinctive, constant teetering motion of its tail when walking.
Example
"While hiking along the edge of the river, we paused to watch a spotted sandpiper teetering on a log as it actively searched for insects."
• Nearby Words
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Spotted sandpiper. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 16, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/spotted sandpiper