tags: Least Sandpiper, Calidris minutilla, birds, nature, Image of the Day
[Mystery bird] Young-of-the-year Least Sandpiper, Calidris minutilla, photographed at photographed at Smith Point, Texas. [I will identify this bird for you tomorrow]
Image: Joseph Kennedy, 29 August 2008 [larger view].
Nikon D200, Kowa 883 telescope TSN-PZ camera eyepiece 1/1250s f/8.0 at 1000.0mm iso400.
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Sandpiper maybe? I have no guess as to which one it could be.
Yes, it's a sandpiper. No need to "guess": it's obviously small, with no really extravagant features in plumage or structure. The bright complex markings of the upperparts tell you it's a juvenile peep (=stint =small *Calidris*). Concentrate on the posture, the bill length and shape, the general pattern of the underparts, the brightness of the upperparts, the prominence of the eyebrow, and you should get it. And then you can probably confirm it by taking a good close look at the legs and toes--which is something you'll want to do anyway to rule out a certain extremely out-of-range "confusion species."
r
Least sandpiper?
JUV Least sandpiper for sure. Yellow/green legs, black bill and Rufus tail feathers.
Juvenile Least Sandpiper, for the same reasons Mr Mom above gave.
Least Sandpiper.
The general body shape and bill size indicates one of the small sandpipers. The green legs pretty much eliminates anything other than least. Other characteristics such as the streaking ending high up on the chest and the stout legs and crouched stance further support the ID. And the feeding at the water's edge rather than in the water is also an indication. However the bill seems a little thick for a least, but that is a judgment I usually make from the side view relative to the head size.