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Four waders from Cancun, Mexico (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter alangr
- Start date
Stuart Darbyshire
45th generation Northern
1st one is a Greater (+ the Stilt)
2nd - I'll pass! If I had to, I'd agree with Short-billed
3rd is Spotted Sand in non-breed plumage
4th is Least Sand
2nd - I'll pass! If I had to, I'd agree with Short-billed
3rd is Spotted Sand in non-breed plumage
4th is Least Sand
chris butterworth
aka The Person Named Above
Seconded.
Peter C.
...just zis guy, you know?
I would agree with [Black-necked Stilt and] Greater for #1, Long-billed Dowitcher for #2, Spotted Sandpiper for #3, and Least Sandpiper for #4.
In #2, my evidence is the very plain tertials, which would not be the case in a hatch-year Short-billed; of-course this would not apply if these are winter adults, but I don't think they are (both species being very plain in adult basic).
For #3, note fine barring on the wing coverts, a good Spotted feature. Solitary, by contrast, shows white dots on the edges.
Peter
In #2, my evidence is the very plain tertials, which would not be the case in a hatch-year Short-billed; of-course this would not apply if these are winter adults, but I don't think they are (both species being very plain in adult basic).
For #3, note fine barring on the wing coverts, a good Spotted feature. Solitary, by contrast, shows white dots on the edges.
Peter
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Thanks for that. Two out of four is good for me! Just to educate myself. I thought solitary because of eye ring but on reviewing books it looks like white shoulder patch is easiest marker? Also, what is clincher on sandpiper - the yellow legs? Thanks again - two lifers with Yellowlegs and Least!
Stuart Darbyshire
45th generation Northern
Yep, you've got both the good ID features
The bird that's partially obscured seems to show quite well marked tertials though.
Peter C.
...just zis guy, you know?
I agree - on this photo. That looks like a lot of white in the white/black ratio. But this bird also shows the typical notched tertials of a Short-billed, too. Still not seeing that in the first photo, they look like different individuals.
Looks like image 1 has 3 juvs and one adult (rear left). Adult is unidentifiable. The juvs have either replaced most of their tertials, or they are growing in (the bird in post 7, and the mostly obscured bird int he first photo). I think in the post 7 photo, you can see the inner most tertail is retained and it looks to have inner marking of rufous, so it is a Short-billed. Would need more views if available to ID others.
Andy
Andy
DarkFireFalcon
Well-known member
In regards to using the tail bands to ID dowitchers, that feature is basically useless. The western and central US breeding subspecies of SB overlap with LB completely in terms of tail banding, and even some of the eastern SB overlap with LB in terms of banding..
Sherpa
Very active member ;-)
Calls.
The pics with the dowitchers show both species, not just one or the other.
For instance, in the OP photo (http://www.birdforum.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=519127&d=1414154628), the two birds in the foreground are fresh juvenile Long-billed Dowitchers (no moult going on there), for reasons already pointed out by others (plain tertials, plain inner greater coverts etc).
The bird partially obscured in the middle is a juv Short-billed Dowitcher moulting to 1st-winter plumage.
Contrary to Andy, I do believe the adult bird in the background can be identified: body shape alone already indicates Short-billed Dowitcher (relatively slim body with flat back), and the plumage seems to confirm this (pale grey breast, whitish ground colour of flanks, only thin dark shaft streaks on scapulars, and rather obvious whitish fringes to wing coverts).
For instance, in the OP photo (http://www.birdforum.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=519127&d=1414154628), the two birds in the foreground are fresh juvenile Long-billed Dowitchers (no moult going on there), for reasons already pointed out by others (plain tertials, plain inner greater coverts etc).
The bird partially obscured in the middle is a juv Short-billed Dowitcher moulting to 1st-winter plumage.
Contrary to Andy, I do believe the adult bird in the background can be identified: body shape alone already indicates Short-billed Dowitcher (relatively slim body with flat back), and the plumage seems to confirm this (pale grey breast, whitish ground colour of flanks, only thin dark shaft streaks on scapulars, and rather obvious whitish fringes to wing coverts).
shropshirelad63
Well-known member
I would say they are all Long Billed, bird 2nd left is ad fem going on the bill length and the others look like juv males?.....
shropshirelad63
Well-known member
Yes, those are Short-billed.
Note the completely different pattern on tertials and greater coverts compared to the two Long-billed Dowitchers in the photo of post #1...
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