Sandpiper ID - Ottawa, ON (1 Viewer)

[tril42]

Photographed at Richmond Conservation Area today. More photos are available if needed.

 

[Deb Burhinus]

My first thought was Western Sandpiper but American peeps aren’t my forte by any stretch of the imagination!

 

[Andrew Whitehouse]

Although it looks a bit dark-legged, it otherwise seems fine for a juvenile Least Sandpiper.

 

[Andy Adcock]

Although it looks a bit dark-legged, it otherwise seems fine for a juvenile Least Sandpiper.

Doesn't the shape and pattern of whitish spots fit Bairds better?

 

[Deb Burhinus]

ha, yes, I was being lazy, I probably should have checked some images online or in a guide book before commenting! Agree, Least Sandpiper has those white spots and lack of rufous head pattern and just realised the location is Ottawa!

nice image here

https://rhodeislandbirdhunter.wordpress.com/2015/08/13/least-sandpiper/

 

[birdmeister]

Doesn't the shape and pattern of whitish spots fit Bairds better?

I think that's a lesser field mark, Andy, compared to the bright orangish tones on the bird. Baird's should always look a buffier/tan color above.

 

[RafaelMatias]

My first thought was Least. Note also the minimal primary projection, well visible on th e1st pic.

 

[tril42]

My confusion with this sandpiper stemmed mainly from its legs looking blackish from every angle (and I had a pretty close view of it in my scope.) Maybe they were just coated in mud?

 

[RafaelMatias]

My confusion with this sandpiper stemmed mainly from its legs looking blackish from every angle (and I had a pretty close view of it in my scope.) Maybe they were just coated in mud?

Legs look a bit paler on the 3rd pic.

 

[bronze sunbird]

The leg colour on Least Sandpiper is often hard to see if they are messing around in mud (as this one is). But the warm brown plumage rules out Semipalmated, which is the only other "peep" likely to show up in Ottawa. I agree with Rafael - Baird's would show a much longer primary projection.

 

[tom baxter]

Tricky one but this is indeed a Juvenile Least Sandpiper. The combination of fairly dense streaking on the face and chest helps a little with the ID, but is not as extensive as on an adult Least in August plumage. The tapered downward curved bill becomes very pointy at the tip, more so than on Western or Semipalmated, and the clincher is that in addition to these other factors, all of the coverts are orange and fresh with scalloping (pale fringes) proving it as a juvenile. Juvenile western would mostly have orange upper scapulars (occasionally some lower scaps and tertials). The whole wing of this bird is orange in other words making this a Juvenile Least.

Western is the confusion competitor here. Bairds would be much longer winged and of a bulkier build, also showing a thicker bill and blunter tipped bill. Semipalmated only get orange as adults, and again bill shape is all wrong for them here.

 

[KC Foggin]

It matches up pretty well with the google images I went through for a Least Sandpiper.

 

[HeadWest]

Certainly a juv least sandpiper

 

[Birdbrain22]

Definite Least Sandpiper here.