bird id please (1 Viewer)

[Dingoblu]

need help with the id of a small bird I observed on the shore of the river this morning. It was roughly 8 inches tall brown overall with lighter breast and white bar on wings. dark legs and and long dark bill. watched it for a while working its way along the shore line quick movements and rapid wing beats.

Location of northern New York state, St. Lawrence river region.

 

[MSA]

My first impression from your description would be Spotted Sandpiper - young bird or non-breeding plumage - apart from the dark legs. Leg colour can be hard to observe, though. Were the wingbeats quite stiff? Sanderling is another possibility, but river location makes this less likely - however I don't know the geography of your area, is the coast nearby?

 

[Dingoblu]

My first impression from your description would be Spotted Sandpiper - young bird or non-breeding plumage - apart from the dark legs. Leg colour can be hard to observe, though. Were the wingbeats quite stiff? Sanderling is another possibility, but river location makes this less likely - however I don't know the geography of your area, is the coast nearby?

Yes the wingbeats were quite stiff, I noticed that as it flew away that it seemed short and abrupt in flight almost.

We are quite a distance from the coast. Our river eventually dumps into the Atlantic, but not near us

Thanks for the info, and I'll try to get close enough for a photo next time I see one.

 

[Larry Lade]

Sounds like a Spotted Sandpiper to me also.

 

[Dingoblu]

Sounds like a Spotted Sandpiper to me also.

the coloring and the distinctive white on the wing sounds like sanderling, but the stiff wingbeat and the location say sandpiper.. also the coloring would be more for winter plumage on the SS unless immature birds have the same coloring?

 

[Larry Lade]

The Spotted Sandpiper has a very distinct flight pattern. A few quick wing beats, then with winged bowed slightly downward it glides, then a few more quick wing beats, then glide. Also they have a very distinct white wing marking when in flight.