The pectoral sandpiper is long, with a wingspan of . This bird looks a lot like the pectoral sandpiper, within whose Asian range it breeds. Only the pectoral sandpiper is a more common American shorebird visitor to Europe. The pectoral sandpiper is sometimes separated with the "stint" sandpipers in "Erolia". On migration and in winter, the pectoral sandpiper is typically found in freshwater habitats. The pectoral sandpiper builds a steep-sided scrape nest with a considerable volume of lining material.