[Tero]

A local birder took these and says there are three species in the photo. He left it as a quiz to ID.

St. Louis area in the last couple of days.
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2.../8-17-09c2.jpg

this is one species, juvenile and adult
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2.../8-15-09g3.jpg

[Reuven_M]

#2 is least?

[Tero]

Yes, that was what Bill said, too.

[Valéry Schollaert]

I'm not specialist in American waders.

I try for fun:

- Semipalmated Sandpipers
- Western Sandpiper (upper right corner) )
- Pectoral Sandpiper at the back (partly hidden)

I'm probably wrong
:)

V.

[Parker]

Think first photo is 3 Semi P's and 2 Western Sand's and photo 2 is Least Sand. P.

[Tero]

The back one is not pectoral, the wing size is the same as others, the slightly smaller bird in front is what you see as the rear of a bird, so the "pectoral" is not as long as it seem at first.

I could not find a side angle, but the pectoral pattern goes all the way down to the belly
http://www.naturescapes.net/portfoli...php?pos=-18410

[njlarsen]

Originally Posted by Tero

The back one is not pectoral, the wing size is the same as others, the slightly smaller bird in front is what you see as the rear of a bird, so the "pectoral" is not as long as it seem at first.

I could not find a side angle, but the pectoral pattern goes all the way down to the belly
http://www.naturescapes.net/portfoli...php?pos=-18410

This photo is not the best quality, but it illustrates really well that the breast pattern has a sharp edge and only goes down to the lower breast and not on the belly at all.

Niels

[Tero]

Well, OK, but pretty far down.

Here is Bill's message
http://www.birdingonthe.net/mailingl...tml#1250561189
he thinks there are least, western and semipalmated in my top linked photo from his album.

[Tero]

More quizzes from the same guy
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...9-1-09d3-1.jpg
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...9-1-09d4-1.jpg

his ideas here
http://www.birdingonthe.net/mailingl...tml#1252041268