Compared to the chunky, more colorful White-rumped, the Baird's Sandpiper always presents a streamlined, level backed, short legged, long winged, plain faced, straight billed and a fairly muted coloration, except for the very buffy pink immature birds, but even these birds are very uniform.

This species also has an extended migration pattern here in the mid-south. I've seen and photographed Baird's from late February through late November. The only months I've not recorded this species are June, December and January!