Years ago I found a "curlew" specimen in a nature center in Maine. The bird
looked very much like an Eskimo Curlew in size and shape, but closer
examination revealed it to be a runt Whimbrel.
John Rakestraw
On Mon, Mar 7, 2016 at 10:24 PM, Robert O'Brien <baro@xxxxxxx> wrote:
A few years ago on ID Frontiers (BIRDWOG01) there was posted a putative
Eskimo Curlew from Europe.
Some flight photos were shown and the bird was clearly, significantly
smaller than any of the accompanying whimbrel flock.
This would have been quite a sighting, but one possible explanation given
in discussion was a 'runt' whimbrel.
I haven't seen much discussion of 'runt' shorebirds, or any other type of
bird runt.
But it seems I saw one last week at Half Moon Bay, California.
This was a very small Marbled Godwit, feeding with, but not flocking
among, 'normal' sized ones.
It appeared to be smaller even than a Bar-tailed. After I had taken a
single comparison photo
(attached) it unfortunately flew off down the ocean beach by itself,
leaving the others on the shore.
Flight photos were consistent with Marbled Godwit.
The attached photo is not the best comparison in positions, but you can
see the size difference. It was really
striking, even to the distant, naked eye.
Anyone have experience with 'runt' shorebirds?
Marbled Godwit is stated not to show significant sexual dimorphism
http://www.bioone.org/doi/abs/10.1675/063.036.0412?journalCode=cowa
nor have I ever seen any significant size variation in many, many flocks
of godwits.
Bob OBrien
Carver OR
PS Would the moderator please post this photo to the OBOL photo site?
Thanks
PPS Of course, one doesn't see many dwarf humans among many, many
'normal' sized ones either.
