[obol] Re: Calidris ID help (Least vs. Long-toed)
- From: Bob Archer <rabican1@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: OBOLINKS <obol@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 28 Oct 2014 10:17:53 -0700
Of course I think the best thing to do, as mentioned last time this went around
OBOL, is get a picture of the toes :)
Bob Archer
> On Oct 28, 2014, at 9:39 AM, Shawneen Finnegan <shawneenfinnegan@xxxxxxxxx>
> wrote:
>
> All:
>
> I would say this is a Least Sandpiper, but this is a very difficult ID that
> has stumped the best, particularly in basic plumage. Leasts can stretch up
> regularly and look tall and upright which throws people off. Bob Archer
> brings up some interesting points, but doesn't mention face pattern and lower
> bill base color, which is the first thing I look for.
>
> Long-toed Stints, particularly juveniles, have a different face pattern that
> differs from Least in that the dark crown extends to the base of the bill and
> connects with the dark eyeline, such that the white supercilium doesn't reach
> the base of the bill. It creates a "J". This is less pronounced in basic
> plumage. The supercilium on Least extends to the base of the bill. This bird
> shows a faint facial pattern with some duskiness at the base of the bill at
> the forward part of the supercilium.
>
> The other thing is that Long-toeds usually, but not always, have a pale base
> to the bill, which this bird does not and vice versa with Leasts. There is
> mud at the base of this bird's bill on its right side, but not on the left
> which shows the bill to be very black.
>
> Leg length can be hard to determine because of Least's propensity to crouch.
> Unless they stand up and look alert like the bird in question, seeing how
> long the upper half of their legs are can be difficult to see.
>
> The first thing I always do is hit the books and internet search for photos
> of both species.
>
> Monte Taylor has a number of photos of LTST on his website at:
> http://www.tsuru-bird.net/a_species/stint_long-toed/
>
> Years ago Rich Stallcup thought he had found a Long-toed in Marin County, CA,
> which was finally deemed a Least Sandpiper. See video/blog by Keith Hansen
> who took lots of video of it below. The record was never submitted as I
> believe it was finally deemed to be a Least Sandpiper. But it shows just how
> hard these can be.
>
> http://thebloggerhead.wordpress.com/2009/10/27/interesting-sandpiper-has-birders-talking-learning-considering/
>
> Off to work. No more time to contemplate this.
>
> Shawneen Finnegan
> Portland, OR
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