green or common sandpiper - Arcachon Basin (1 Viewer)

[marnixR]

not sure about this one - the general aspect of the bird seems to say to me "common sandpiper", but i can't see the white crescent that's supposed to b diagnostic of the species
pictures taken in the first week of September, Le Teich Reserve Ornithologique, east of Arcachon

 

[Alexander Stöhr]

Hello again Marnix,

its a Green Sandpiper. Please note

• the right dark-muddy brown upperpatrs with an olive tinge, many Common Sandpipers are slightly warmer
• thick dark bars on the tail, just visible, as a hard feature
• a distinct supercilium, stopping at the eye-ring and not reaching beyond is better for Green, but does not exclude a Common Sandpiper with 100% confidence alone?

 

[marnixR]

thanks for the additional ID characteristics - it's the first time i've knowingly seen a green sandpiper, although in the past i may well have mistakenly lumped them with the common sandpiper

 

[Valéry Schollaert]

The most reliable feature is the tail length ; it is also a good habit to see the wing structure and the tail to identify birds.

The tail of the Common Sandpiper is long and can be easily seen while Tringa sandpipers such Green have a short tail that don't reach the wing tips (so it is usually hidden between the wings).

Please look at the third photo on this page. The green arrows show the wing tips and the yellow ones the tail tip.

 

[marnixR]

Noted - will try and keep in mind for future occasions

 

[bobf711]

The most reliable feature is the tail length ; it is also a good habit to see the wing structure and the tail to identify birds.

The tail of the Common Sandpiper is long and can be easily seen while Tringa sandpipers such Green have a short tail that don't reach the wing tips (so it is usually hidden between the wings).

Please look at the third photo on this page. The green arrows show the wing tips and the yellow ones the tail tip.

One further difference to add - Common Sandpiper almost always shows the white 'shoulder' between the wing and breast. Green Sandpiper doesn't.

 

[antbird53]

One further difference to add - Common Sandpiper almost always shows the white 'shoulder' between the wing and breast. Green Sandpiper doesn't.

View attachment 1602801

And also demonstrating the long tail of Common Sandpiper...

 

[bobf711]

And also demonstrating the long tail of Common Sandpiper...

To be fair I did wonder about the 'long tail' comment.

 

[Valéry Schollaert]

To be fair I did wonder about the 'long tail' comment.

The tail feature is the most reliable because it is the shape, and can always be seen even in wrong light for example. Shape is less variable than pattern, and pattern (much) less variable than colours.

Now, as a bird can be dirty and thus have a pattern feature hidden, feathers can be broken or moulting and change the shape of a bird. This is why several features are always better than one.

 

[bobf711]

The tail feature is the most reliable because it is the shape, and can always be seen even in wrong light for example. Shape is less variable than pattern, and pattern (much) less variable than colours.

Now, as a bird can be dirty and thus have a pattern feature hidden, feathers can be broken or moulting and change the shape of a bird. This is why several features are always better than one.

Agree absolutely that the more features the merrier. Just wasn't aware a long tail was a feature of Common Sandpipers.

I'm guessing this individual is either in moult or is a youngster as it's tail doesn't seem to fit the expectation - pics were taken 3rd September.