Sandpiper from Al Ain, UAE, 02.09.2017. (1 Viewer)

[Brian J Small]

This is a Marsh Sandpiper as said by Daniel, Steve and Lou

You don't need to evaluate leg length to identify it
White lores is a good feature for Marsh Sand, but Greenshank can show them
Bills of both Greenshank and Marsh Sand vary in length
The pattern of juvenile coverts and tertials vary in Marsh Sand, from being quite notched (as in OP and here Marsh Sandpiper Macaulay Library ML33291321) to fairly plain with internal marks (as here Marsh Sandpiper Macaulay Library ML373861071)

Brian

 

[Butty]

pattern of juvenile coverts and tertials

So... Is this the uniquely-identifying feature?

 

[jbpixels]

I reviewed my ID again and again. Pretty wrong on first view. Referring to my post #15 do I now use the same features to id that this wader is not a greenshank. Stoutness of the beak close to the head, ratio of upper mandible to lower mandible and bill tip indicate now a marsh to me but I am not a 100% sure. LOL.