Shorebird ID Ontario, Canada (1 Viewer)

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carterdorscht

Well-known member

• Aug 22, 2017

• #1

I realize these photos are not very good and I understand if no conclusive ID can be determined. I've included both the original and cropped versions. This shorebird was flying around a sod field this morning near Echo Bay, Ontario, Canada. I had better looks in my binoculars and the belly did seem dark. It appeared to be around the size of a Killdeer, but obviously size is hard to gauge without a comparison. It was calling, but I was unable to record it.

 

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dwatsonbirder

Well-known member

• Aug 22, 2017

• #2

Dark belly, clean auxiliaries, and short billed appearance point towards AGP, but that is using deduction rather than hard facts. Would I want to rule out European or Pacific based on these shots? Not really.

 

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AlinoVegano

Well-known member

• Aug 22, 2017

• #3

American Golden Plover

 

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Simon Wates

Well-known member

• Aug 22, 2017

• #4

dwatsonbirder said:

Dark belly, clean auxiliaries, and short billed appearance point towards AGP, but that is using deduction rather than hard facts. Would I want to rule out European or Pacific based on these shots? Not really.

Click to expand...

Agree - though it does look like an AGP, wings look long and body slim....

 

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AlinoVegano

Well-known member

• Aug 22, 2017

• #5

dwatsonbirder said:

Dark belly, clean auxiliaries, and short billed appearance point towards AGP, but that is using deduction rather than hard facts. Would I want to rule out European or Pacific based on these shots? Not really.

Click to expand...

European GP underwing is different. We cannot rule out Pacific GP, but range make the identification quite confidently towards AGP.

 

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carterdorscht

Well-known member

• Aug 22, 2017

• #6

Thanks everyone! Now that I've listened to the flight call of it, it does seem to match what I heard this morning.

 

dwatsonbirder

Well-known member

• Aug 22, 2017

• #7

AlinoVegano said:

European GP underwing is different. We cannot rule out Pacific GP, but range make the identification quite confidently towards AGP.

Click to expand...

Hi Alino, I'm aware of the differences having had good field experience with all three, but from these shots, and to my eyes I'd leave it as "Golden plover spp" depending upon the context of the sighting.
Given the location I also agree that AGP is significantly more likely than the other two, but autumn is already upon us
I think we can all agree that it is not either Killdeer or Grey plover based on what can be seen though.