The Sanderling is a small, plump sandpiper measuring 7.1–7.9 inches in length, with a wingspan of about 13.8 inches and a bill length of roughly 0.9–1.1 inches. In nonbreeding plumage, adults appear very pale gray above and white below with a distinctive dark shoulder patch; in breeding season, the head, neck, and back show rich rufous and black mottling. They forage in loose flocks on wave-washed sandy beaches, chasing the receding surf as they probe for crustaceans and other invertebrates.
In Arizona, Sanderlings are uncommon migrants and occasional winter visitors, primarily encountered in small groups along the sandy shorelines of desert reservoirs and recharge ponds. Notable sites include the Glendale Recharge Ponds, where they turn up most often during southbound migration in late summer and early fall, and again during northbound passage in spring.
