[mou] [mnbird] odd shorebird

[rdunlap at gustavus.edu]

This bird appears to be an adult Pectoral Sandpiper, possibly with  
worn plumage. Pectoral Sandpipers can be quite variable in size, and  
the larger ones are very close to Stilt Sandpipers in size. A Reeve  
would be closer to a Lesser Yellowlegs in size, and definitely not  
smaller than a Stilt Sandpiper. Notice the grayish breast that ends  
abruptly at the bird's clean white belly, a  characteristic that is  
classic for Pectoral Sandpipers. Also notice the bill that is orangish  
at the base and is slightly downcurved, which is the bill of a  
Pectoral (a Ruff/Reeve bill would be straighter). Also notice the  
faint supercilium, again a field mark of a Pectoral.

Unless you're trying to separate Baird's and White-rumped Sandpipers  
from other shorebirds, tail and wing length on birds not flying is  
very difficult to judge and probably not a very useful fieldmark.

Bob Dunlap, Nicollet County
bobthebirdman.blogspot.com





Quoting "Steve Weston" <sweston2 at comcast.net>:

> this odd sandpipper is definitely not a Stilt!  If you look at the  
> head, the Stilt always has a slanting forehead, this bird does not.   
> And the obvious: bill shape.  this bird has a shorter thicker,  
> decurved billed.  The wing tips do not extend beyond the tail like a  
> Stilt.  The warm brown tones of the plumage eliminate a couple of  
> possible shorebirds that would not be expected (Knots) and is  
> consistent with breeding plumage of a Reeve, a female Ruff.  The  
> Ruff is a larger bird than a Stilt.  Well, actually a male Ruff is  
> larger.  A female Ruff is about the same size as a Stilt.   I am off  
> to Fairbault!
>
> Steve Weston on Quiggley Lake in Eagan, MN
> sweston2 at comcast.net
>   ----- Original Message -----
>   From: dan&erika
>   To: Ricebird ; MOU net ; mnbird
>   Sent: Saturday, August 30, 2008 12:27 PM
>   Subject: [mnbird] odd shorebird
>
>
>   Hi All--Yesterday, 29 Aug, Erika and I drove down to the River  
> Bend Nature Center in Faribault, Rice Co., to check out the Stilt  
> Sandpiper.  I took photographs and got around to "developing" them  
> late morning the next day (today),
>
>   What do you make of this photo?   
> http://www.northern.edu/tallmand/dat/misc/stiltmystery.jpg
>   At the time I thought I was taking a photo of one of a few Stilt  
> Sandpipers on the pond.  But the bill looks way too short for a  
> Stilt Sandpiper.  The base of the bill is also an odd pink color.   
> The bird is vaguely colored like a Ruff, but the breast is not plain  
> like a Ruff.
>
>   A second photo shows what may be the mystery bird behind an  
> obvious Stilt Sandpiper.
>   http://www.northern.edu/tallmand/dat/misc/stiltmystery2.jpg
>   Note the much more obvious eyeline on the Stilt Sandpiper and its  
> grayer coloration.  Is the mystery sandpiper just an immature Stilt  
> Sandpiper?
>
>   I will be interested to hear any and all opinions.
>
>   dan
>
>   --
>   Dan or Erika Tallman
>   Northfield, Minnesota
>   http://danerika.googlepages.com/home
>   http://picasaweb.google.com/danerika
>   danerika at gmail.com
>
>   ".... the best shod travel with wet feet"
>   "Beware of all enterprises that require new clothes ...."--Thoreau
>
>
>
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