tags: Pectoral Sandpiper, Calidris melanotos, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz
[Mystery bird] Pectoral Sandpiper, Calidris melanotos, photographed at Anahuac Wildlife Refuge, Texas. [I will identify this bird for you tomorrow]
Image: Joseph Kennedy, 19 May 2009 [larger view].
Nikon D200 ,Kowa 883 telescope with TSN-PZ camera eyepiece 1/180s f/8.0 at 1000.0mm iso400.
Please name at least one field mark that supports your identification.
Appears to be a Sandpiper
I'm not certain, but I'm going to go with pectoral sandpiper. The yellowish legs, the pattern of the wing and back feathers, and what I can see of the beak all seem to match that pretty well.
#2 for the Pectoral Sandpiper
I agree with John a PECTORAL SANDPIPER, Calidris melanotos, mostly brown with yellowish legs, but much larger with more stretched out shape. Sharp contrast separates brown streaked breast from white belly. However striped on back. Males larger than females.
From KAUFMAN Field Guide to Birds of North America.
I notice a lot of your birds come from Texas. We got birds out the wazoo here in fall and winter.
But I have one question. Why do I see so many huge flocks of geese flying south or just coming to nearby wetlands every winter, but I almost never see large flocks fling north?
I think this is a Least Sandpiper because the wings are shorter than in Pectoral (viz. don't reach tail tip).