The Solitary Sandpiper has a prominent white eye-ring and a black-and-white tail. It walks in shallow water, frequently bobbing the rear of its body.
Its wings are olive-gray, its tail is black and white, and a bold ring surrounds the eye. In flight, dark underwings contrast with the white belly.
For breeding, it reuses old tree nests built by other songbirds. During migration and winter, it walks along muddy shores or in shallow water and catches insects and small aquatic animals by sight.
It lays 3–5 eggs, with incubation lasting 23–24 days. Active chicks can leave as soon as their down dries, and both parents feed and care for them.
It sometimes vibrates one foot in water to stir prey. Food includes mosquito larvae, beetles, dragonfly nymphs, small fish, tadpoles and frogs.
A dark stripe runs down the tail centre, with bars on the outer tail feathers. The legs are olive. Nonbreeding birds have fewer back spots and a brown wash on the breast.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.