Dunlin or Curlew Sandpiper - October / Hawaii (2 Viewers)

[Shorebirdidiot]

Freeze frames from video. Looks a little pale and long-legged for a Dunlin. Not sure. Thanks.

 

[KenM]

To my eye it looks more like CS than Dunlin, in as much as looking more elegant, less compact?

Cheers

 

[Alexander Stöhr]

Hello,
is it possible to see te video?
Yes, it's an elegant, leggy and long billed bird, but with many caveats against Curlew Sandpiper imo:

• the supercilium seems very week and nearly absent behind the eye (yes, some CS have the supercilium more distinct and broad/evident before the eye than behind, but more striking before the eye then. Always?)
• your bird has streaks on the upper flanks, just below the bread sides. Bad for winte lumaged CS (?)
• yes, it seems that I want to shift the features away from CS and push it towards Dunlin, but although the bill is variation for this species, it gives a slightly uneven blended impression to me. And some CS have even longer ones and knowing the nearctic ssp of Dunlin has long bills according to literature:

Yes, if forced, I would ID your bird as a Dunlin, but with the caveat that I have never seen the nearctic ssp.

 

[Shorebirdidiot]

Thanks for the replies. I put the video of this bird on my YouTube channel. Itʻs unlisted (not public), but the link can be shared.

 

[KenM]

Certainly “leggy” and long billed, however I too have never seen the near arctic ssp and noting the absence of any “warm” tint to the breast and reduced supercillium, am now inclined to assume it to be a Dunlin.

Cheers

 

[Shorebirdidiot]

Thanks for the help.

 

[lou salomon]

Dunlin in my eyes. Tibia still too short, and no wing projection.