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Calidris for ID - Coastal West Bengal, India, April 2018 (1 Viewer)

sbiswas.geo

Well-known member
We used to think that Little Stint is a regular and Red-necked is a super migrant for us in Bengal coast. But extensive birding in late spring (March-April) over the last two years have given us enough proof to consider Red-necked as a regular species as well. I myself have completed a trip over this weekend and almost all Stints I found were Red-necked in their breeding plumage. As a result of these observations, we are now reviewing our older records to figure out if there were any Red-necked candidates in the past documentation. The attached photo is from a friend and I would like to know what Birdforum members think about these two stints on either side.

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The right hand bird with the red neck looks like a Spoon billed Sandpiper to me- a bird I've never seen. Curlew Sandpiper in the middle & Little Stint I think on the left.
It is an illusion created by muddy bill. Not a Spoonie. :)
 
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From what the OP wrote he didn't see these birds as he said it was a photo from a friend.
I must have read it too quickly... I am lucky enough to have seen spoonies although not in summer plumage. Not saying it is one... ...but think it needs proper ruling out
 
. . . which were . . ?
Spoon-billed appears to be more bulbous, with legs positioned further lower on the belly.

This is a photo from 2019 and it has been discussed in detail at that time. I am including a closer crop which, I believe, will convince you that the bird has something on its bill that gives the illusion of Spoonie and it's not an actual Spoonie. My only query is about Little Stint vs Red-necked. In 2019, we thought it to be Little Stint based on our perception at that time.

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The bill base doesn't look broad enough for a Spoon-billed to me, and from the zoomed photo you can tell that the appearance of a 'spoon' is actually caused by a dark area on the mud behind.
Little Stint wouldn't show this combination of pink tones on the face and breast, throat pink not white, and breast sides not well spotted. It looks like a typical Red-necked Stint to me, moulting to breeding plumage.
 
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