[Doc Duck]

Two Sandpipers at Union Bay Natural Area, UW Botanical Park, Seattle WA. The smaller one is brown, slightly drooping bill, clear markings on breast, yellow legs - perhaps Least Sandpiper? The other is slightly larger, paler colored, thicker necked, with black legs. I haven't a clue on that one. And I still haven't gotten home to my North America field guide (couldn't find it in the few hours I had to pack before taking off). So, since I have lots of lovely shots of these two I might want to post before getting home, I thought I'd ask you good folks on the ID forum. Thanks in advance

[apbarr]

Probably wrong but Sanderling and Least Sandpiper?

[Steve Arlow]

Western Sandpiper on the left, nice long bill, and Least Sandpiper on the right, warm tones and pale legs.

regards

[apbarr]

Originally Posted by Steve Arlow

Western Sandpiper on the left, nice long bill, and Least Sandpiper on the right, warm tones and pale legs.

regards

Knew I'd be wrong, far too small for Sanderling

[The Falcon]

I agree with Steve.

[Larry Lade]

Semipalmated Sandpiper & Least Sandpiper

[Doc Duck]

Originally Posted by Larry Lade

Semipalmated Sandpiper & Least Sandpiper

At least we all agree on Least
I've been checking Western vs Semipalmated on the Cornell site. Semipalmated looks more correct to me. Western seems to have more markings on the breast. Semipalmated is nearly free of breast markings, as was this bird. Semipalmated also seems paler grey. And without one of each to compare, I find it hard to decide on the basis of bill length. But then again ... I'm biased. I have loads of Westerns from my year in the SF Bay Area, but no certain Semipalmateds. Would be nice to have a first. Therefore, I'd better wait for others to chime in and settle the matter. Mustn't let desire trump judgment.

[Doc Duck]

ps: According to Cornell site, Semipalmated could be here now, but Western is only barely here in Winter (their map shows Western's winter range as stopping just south of here, but that should allow for a few strays up this way).

[Microtus]

I also agree with Steve.

[jaco]

I don't see why it's not a Semipalmated.

[Doc Duck]

Does this help? I found I had a shot of the disputed bird that showed it spreading one foot. I've added the shot to the original post.

[Steve Arlow]

This bird has rather long legs and is quite slender with a slightly kinked neck as well as a longish looking bill.

This gives an appearance of a more elegant peep rather than the generally more dumpy, short and stubbyish billed and shorter legged SemiP.

This species pair share palmatations between the toes and are notoriously difficult to tell apart, some females can have longer bills etc, but for my two penith based on these images I would go with Western Sandpiper unless there is good reasoning for it being a Semi P

[Doc Duck]

Originally Posted by Steve Arlow

This bird has rather long legs and is quite slender with a slightly kinked neck as well as a longish looking bill.

This gives an appearance of a more elegant peep rather than the generally more dumpy, short and stubbyish billed and shorter legged SemiP.

This species pair share palmatations between the toes and are notoriously difficult to tell apart, some females can have longer bills etc, but for my two penith based on these images I would go with Western Sandpiper unless there is good reasoning for it being a Semi P

OK. Thanks! Sometimes I get an ID from the forum and it just clicks. This one, as you say, is notoriously difficult. So thanks for the explanations. Very helpful!

[Larry Lade]

For me, the bird still looks more like a Semipalmated than a Western Sandpiper. I think the bill length is OK, the slightly grayer cast to the plumage and the less defined head and neck marking are things that point me to the former.

[Hotspur]

Bill looks blob tipped which is pro semi-p