Hi everybody
not so easy to be sure on the identification of these sandpipers.
I send you the last comments I received (don't hesitate to send the next
ones directly on the list)
Sandpiper2 is most definitely a Western. The drooped tip gives it away.
Sandpiper1 also strikes me as being too "robust breasted" to be a
Semipalmated, thus making it a male C.Mauri judging by the tapered short
bill.
Thomas J. Dunkerton
Fabrice - after seeing the additional photos on Yahoo, I would agree with
Brian that they are both Westerns. The frontal view of the tip of the beak
on Sandp1 is too narrow for a Semipalm.
Bob Wallace
So, 3 of you think that both are Western.
And I just received the following message who is also very interesting !!!!
all my best,
Fabrice
----- Original Message -----
From: "Cameron Cox" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, August 22, 2006 1:21 PM
Subject: Sandpipers
> Fabrice,
>
> I believe that both birds posted on your web site are Semipalmated
> Sandpipers. While I agree that the second bird strongly suggests Western
> at first glance, I believe it is a long-billed female Semipalmated. It is
> not well known, but many female Semipalmated Sandpipers can have quite
> long bills and as their bill get longer they also show a finer tip and may
> even droop a bit. I worked on a project banding Semipalmated Sandpipers
> in the Delaware bay and we caught many of these extremely long-billed
> Semipalmateds.
>
> Both birds in your photos show the compact look and evenly rounded belly
> of Semipalmated. Some Semipalmateds can be quite bright, so the fact that
> there is a bit of rufous on the second bird does not eliminate
> Semipalmated. In fact, since Westerns molt much earlier than Semipalmated
> the fact that it has retained alternate plumage is a strike against
> Western. I would expect that if a Western should ever make it to Chile
> that it would be in complete basic plumage before it arrived.
>
> A minor point, but the color of both of these birds looks more like
> Semipalmated. They are both a fairly soft grey. Westerns in fresh basic
> plumage usually are slightly darker, a silvery or gunmetal grey, but fade
> fairly rapidly. Also bird #2 seem to show a few faint markings on the
> hindmost portion of the flanks. While Westerns show chevron shaped
> marking all down the flanks in alternate plumage, in basic plumage this
> area in unmarked. In my experience, thin shaft-streaks on the rear of the
> flanks not connected to more markings along the rest of the flanks
> strongly suggests Semipalmated Sandpiper. Which I would expect would be
> far more likely to turn up in Chile anyway.
>
> Cameron Cox
> Seattle, Washington
>
>
>
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