Stilt Sandpiper or Dunlin? tampa march 24 (1 Viewer)

[goawildlifeenthusiast]

One in the background, in the middle. rest are dowitchers.

 

[birdmeister]

I think relative size and bill shape favor Dunlin.

 

[goawildlifeenthusiast]

I think relative size and bill shape favor Dunlin.

ok thanks

 

[Jeff Hopkins]

Dunlin for me, too. The bill is way too long for Stilt Sand.

 

[raymie]

Dunlin.

 

[Paul Penzance]

Looks like another dowitcher to me.

 

[THE_FERN]

Stilt sand for me. Its bill is not too long (compare this headline image from ebird), but most importantly the stripe continues over the eye. In Dunlin this is clearer before the eye after which it peters out

ML37815831 - Stilt Sandpiper - Macaulay Library

Macaulay Library ML37815831; © Evan Lipton; Norfolk, Massachusetts, United States

macaulaylibrary.org

 

[goawildlifeenthusiast]

Stilt sand for me. Its bill is not too long (compare this headline image from ebird), but most importantly the stripe continues over the eye. In Dunlin this is clearer before the eye after which it peters out

ML37815831 - Stilt Sandpiper - Macaulay Library

Macaulay Library ML37815831; © Evan Lipton; Norfolk, Massachusetts, United States

macaulaylibrary.org

That’s the image that made me think stilt sand, but I’ll let you pros decide, because shorebirds are not my strong suit. I will upload some photos of the other Dunlins i found. The main reason why I didn’t think dunlin was size, because it seemed like the dunlins I was sure about were closer in size to the sanderlings. But I will go through the photos and upload them later tonight when I get the chance. However this may also be the curlew sandpiper, so maybe it’s best left unidentified??

 

[Bubbs]

Is it just me or do I see rufous ear coverts starting to show?

 

[jmepler]

My initially thought was Dunlin, but I believe that it is a Stilt Sandpiper. The birds legs are reflected in the water and they appear to be greenish, and too long for Dunlin.

 

[Butty]

legs are reflected in the water and they appear to be greenish

👎🏼

 

[jmepler]

👎🏼

You disagree?

 

[Rapala]

Agree with Stilt Sandpiper - size and shape look good (rather tall compared to the dowitchers, or at least taller than I would expect a Dunlin to appear) and the pale eyebrow with a hint of buff in the cheek also look good for Stilt.

 

[goawildlifeenthusiast]

Stilt sand for me. Its bill is not too long (compare this headline image from ebird), but most importantly the stripe continues over the eye. In Dunlin this is clearer before the eye after which it peters out

ML37815831 - Stilt Sandpiper - Macaulay Library

Macaulay Library ML37815831; © Evan Lipton; Norfolk, Massachusetts, United States

macaulaylibrary.org

👎🏼

Agree with Stilt Sandpiper - size and shape look good (rather tall compared to the dowitchers, or at least taller than I would expect a Dunlin to appear) and the pale eyebrow with a hint of buff in the cheek also look good for Stilt.

You disagree?

Dunlin for me, too. The bill is way too long for Stilt Sand.

I think relative size and bill shape favor Dunlin.

Seems like a discussion, so Im going to add the photo of the dunlins i saw. But the reason I felt it was a stilt sand was because I got multiple shots of dunlins among sanderlings, westerns sands and least sands, and they looked small like this one below. Sorry I have no more good pics, those annoying kids kept scaring off the flock.

 

[Rapala]

Seems like a discussion, so Im going to add the photo of the dunlins i saw. But the reason I felt it was a stilt sand was because I got multiple shots of dunlins among sanderlings, westerns sands and least sands, and they looked small like this one below. Sorry I have no more good pics, those annoying kids kept scaring off the flock.
View attachment 1569529

Right, stilt sandpipers are approaching lesser yellowlegs size, while dunlin can easily blend in with other peeps. Another thing to note is that dunlin have a fairly even curvature to the bill, while stilt sandpipers have a more pronounced droop near the bill tip. I think your first photo shows this drooping bill characteristic quite well!

 

[birdmeister]

Thanks to everyone above for some really informative posts

I'm still not quite sure it's Stilt Sand after looking again, but I'm much less convinced it's a straightforward Dunlin.

 

[goawildlifeenthusiast]

Right, stilt sandpipers are approaching lesser yellowlegs size, while dunlin can easily blend in with other peeps. Another thing to note is that dunlin have a fairly even curvature to the bill, while stilt sandpipers have a more pronounced droop near the bill tip. I think your first photo shows this drooping bill characteristic quite well!

This picture shows significant size difference between dunlin and dowitchers that i got:

 

[goawildlifeenthusiast]

Looks unexceptional. I think you're onto a loser in hoping - except in extreme examples - to identify dowitchers on bill-length.
Better as a separate topic.

ok i removed it, no need for confusion.

 

[AveryBartels]

Another for Stilt Sand for reasons given by others (bill,super cilium etc). Fwiw, the Do witchers all seem good for Short-billed per the steep forehead and loral angle.

 

[njlarsen]

I have not seen dunlin in a lot of years, but I would have no problem naming this as a stilt sand
Niels