This is an adult in full breeding plumage. This species is endemic to the Pacific Ocean migrating from the Arctic along both coasts to South America, Asia and Australia as well as the South Pacific Islands. In California it is a fairly common migrant along rocky shores, but scarce in winter. In Asia it is usually less common than the very similar Gray-tailed Tattler (T. brevipes). Older field guides placed the tattlers in the genus Heteroscelus, but the AOU merged them into Tringa in the 47th Supplement.
