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Message: <blockquote data-quote="JANJ" data-source="post: 1267202" data-attributes="member: 20722">Hi Larry.Indeed a Last Sandpiper and due to the fresh neat plumage a juvenile.The rather short thin slightly downcurved bill together with dark upperparts, pale legs and structural differences separates it from Western and Semipalmated Sandpiper.There´s also differences in the pattern of the coverts and scapulars.Compare this juv. Least:<a href="http://www.pbase.com/btblue/image/50094469" target="_blank">http://www.pbase.com/btblue/image/50094469</a>with this juv. Semipalmated:<a href="http://www.pbase.com/btblue/image/88619245" target="_blank">http://www.pbase.com/btblue/image/88619245</a>and note the heavier structure with bigger head, thicker more blunt-tipped bill and pattern of coverts and scapulars. Especially the darker upperparts of Least with less contrast to lower covert region compared with Semipalmted. The shorter primary projection beyond the tertials of Least is also notable compared with longer in Semipalmated.<a href="http://www.pbase.com/btblue/least_sandpiper" target="_blank">http://www.pbase.com/btblue/least_sandpiper</a><a href="http://www.pbase.com/btblue/semipalmated_sandpiper" target="_blank">http://www.pbase.com/btblue/semipalmated_sandpiper</a><a href="http://www.americanbirding.org/birding/v40n4p32.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.americanbirding.org/birding/v40n4p32.pdf</a><a href="http://www.americanbirding.org/birding/v40n4p40w1.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.americanbirding.org/birding/v40n4p40w1.pdf</a>JanJ</blockquote>

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