| Scientific Name | Calidris mauri |
| Category | L |
| Taxon | Birds |
| Climate Change Vulnerability Score | Moderately Vulnerable |
The Western Sandpiper (Calidris mauri) is a small shorebird (14-17 cm long [5.5-7 in]; 22-35 g [0.7-1.2 oz]) with a black bill and legs. Breeding adults have brown and rufus on their upperparts with bright white underparts; nonbreeding adults are duller brown on their upperparts. It feeds on invertebrates in shallow water. It breeds in northwestern, coastal Alaska and winters in the coastal and southern US, Mexico, and South America. The Western Sandpiper will experience a high degree of climate exposure and has a high adaptive capacity. Overall, it has a Climate Change Vulnerability Index ranking of Moderately Vulnerable under both Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) 4.5 and RCP 8.5 Scenarios. The Western Sandpiper’s climate change vulnerability is impacted by factors related to movement and abiotic niche, which influence its ability to shift in space and respond to climate change impacts. It also has documented or modeled responses to climate change that impact its vulnerability score.
