White-rumped or Western Sandpiper (1 Viewer)

C

Cantobello

Well-known member

• Sep 12, 2011

• #1

These peeps are so difficult. Who tends to agree that especially the first one is a white-rumped sandpiper. The bill is more that of a western sandpiper, but it seems large and for a western SP the streaks on the side of the breast should have molted 'away' right?
Taken in Sint Maarten, 31 July.

Thanks,
Ronald

 

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LabradorDuck

Well-known member

• Sep 14, 2011

• #2

Both look kind of big for Western, but I'm not that great with peeps. Have you eliminated Baird's?

 

beakgeek

Well-known member

• Sep 14, 2011

• #3

I see what appears to be chevrons on the flank of the first picture, but kind of hard to see. I'd vote for Western with a clearer image.

 

Jeff Hopkins

Just another...observer

• Sep 14, 2011

• #4

We had a massive fallout of white-rumps here last week and none of them had as much markings on the breast as this bird does.

I vote western, too.

 

C

Cantobello

Well-known member

• Sep 22, 2011

• #5

But should the Western not have a more molted plumage?

 

ovenbird43

Well-known member

• Sep 23, 2011

• #6

Based on body shape I would go for Western. White-rumped has a longer primary projection, giving it a much more attenuated shape.

 

E

etudiant

Registered User

Supporter

• Sep 23, 2011

• #7

Is the droopy bill not a Western characteristics?

 

LabradorDuck

Well-known member

• Sep 24, 2011

• #8

On further consideration I'd go for Western too. I think the "large" size is a trick of the light, so with wings that short it can't be White-rumped. The bill looks better for Western than Semipalmated (are there other points against Semipalmated?).

Molt and plumage in peeps can be quite variable, so one has to look at a variety of characteristics.