We've all seen sandpipers foraging busily on mudflats or at the ocean's edge. But this Lesser Yellowlegs often carols from the top of a tall conifer in its nesting territory in Alaska.

The name "sandpiper" actually comes from the voices of these birds, rather than from their long-billed probing in the sand.

While the name refers in particular to the birds' short "piped" -- or whistled -- calls, a number of sandpipers are surprisingly good singers.

Learn more about sandpipers and all kinds of birds at BirdNote.