Pacific Flyway Shorebird Survey
What to expect…
• 12 species of shorebirds detected
BBPL; 2%
SEPL; 0%
BNST; 0%
WISN; 1%SHOR; 0%
BBPL
SEPL
KILL
BNST
KILL; 19%AMAV; 0%
GRYE; 7%
LBCU; 3%LESA; 15%
DUNL; 30%
XDOW; 23%
BNST
AMAV
GRYE
LBCU
LESA
DUNL
XDOW
WISN
SHOR
Pacific Flyway Shorebird Survey
Field Guides
Shorebirds of North America:The Photographic Guide
by Dennis Paulson
The Sibley Field Guide to the Birds
of Western North Americaby David Allen Sibley
The Shorebird Guideby Michael O’Brien,
Richard Crossley,
Kevin Karlson
by David Allen Sibley
Pacific Flyway Shorebird Survey
Shorebird Topography
Bill
Tail
SuperciliumTail
Legs
Supercilium
Breast
Belly
Tail
© Davis Allen Sibley
Pacific Flyway Shorebird Survey
Shorebird Silhouettes
curlews dowitchersploversavocetscurlews dowitchersploversavocets
killdeeryellowlegs dunlin peeps
Pacific Flyway Shorebird Survey
Stilts and Avocets0.1%
American Avocet
(Recurvirostra americana)
Black-necked Stilt
(Himantopus mexicanus)
© Gypsy Flores
Pacific Flyway Shorebird Survey
Plovers
Killdeer Semipalmated PloverKilldeer
(Charadrius vociferus)
Semipalmated Plover
(Charadrius semipalmatus)
Black-bellied Plover
(Pluvialis squatarola)
Pacific Flyway Shorebird Survey
Killdeer
Size: Medium; L: 11”
Bill: Short, thick dark
Legs: Flesh colored
Appearance:
19%
Appearance:
− Upperparts brown
− Underparts white
− Two black breast bands
− Red eye ring
− Voice
© Ingrid Taylor
Stuart McKay
Pacific Flyway Shorebird Survey
Semipalmated Plover
Size: Small; L: 8”
Bill: Short, thin with hints bi-color
Legs: orange-ish legs
Appearance:
− Upperparts brownish-grey
0.1%
Brad Bergstrom
− Upperparts brownish-grey
− Underparts white
− Single dark neckband
© Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
Pacific Flyway Shorebird Survey
Killdeer vs. Semipalmated Plover
Killdeer
*larger
*two black breast bands
*elongated
Semipalmated Plover
*smaller
*single dark neckband
*plumper
*shorter bill
Pacific Flyway Shorebird Survey
Black-bellied Plover
Size: Medium, plump, L: 12”
Bill: Short, thick, dark
Legs: Black
Appearance:
− Gray upperparts with pale edging
www.inwater.org
2.4%
− Gray upperparts with pale edging
− White underparts
− Black axillaries visible in flight
− White wing stripe
− White rump
Voice: slow “peeooEEE”
© Stephen J. Davies
Pacific Flyway Shorebird Survey
Large Shorebirds
Long-billed Curlew
(Numenius americanus)
Whimbrel
(Numenius phaeopus)
Pacific Flyway Shorebird Survey
Long-billed Curlew
Size: Largest North American shorebird; L: 23”
Bill: Very long and decurved
Legs: Gray
Appearance:
3%
Appearance:
− Mottled brown upperparts
− Cinnamon underparts
− Long neck, small head
− Cinnamon underwing
Tom Grey
©Arthur Morris/BirdsAsArt
Pacific Flyway Shorebird Survey
Whimbrel
Size: Large, L: 18”
Bill: Long and decurved
Legs: Dark and short
Appearance:
− Brown upperparts with light and dark
Whimbrel © T.Douglas Rodda
0%
− Brown upperparts with light and dark
spotting
− Head striped brown and white
− Brown streaked neck and breast
− White belly
Pacific Flyway Shorebird Survey
Long-billed Curlew vs. Whimbrel
Long-billed Curlew
*larger
*longer bill – 3 head lengths
*lighter legs
Whimbrel
*smaller
*shorter bill -2 head legnths
*darker legs
*boldly striped head
Pacific Flyway Shorebird Survey
Medium Shorebirds
Dowitchers (Limnodromus spp.)Lesser Yellowlegs
(Tringa flavipes)
http://www.westpascoaudubon.com
© Phil Jeffery Wilson’s Phalarope
(Phalaropus tricolor)
©Jack Binch
© Rajiv LatherWilson’s Snipe (Gallinago delicata)
Greater Yellowlegs
(Tringa melanoleuca)
Pacific Flyway Shorebird Survey
Greater Yellowlegs
Size: Medium, L: 14”
Bill: Slightly upturned, long bill
Legs: Bright yellow
Appearance:
7%
Underparts white with gray-brown streaks
Upperparts dark brown with pale flecks
Voice: “tew, tew, tew”
Pacific Flyway Shorebird Survey
Lesser Yellowlegs
Size: Medium, L: 10.5”
Bill: Straight, medium bill
Legs: Bright yellow
Appearance: Appearance:
Underparts white with gray-brown streak
Upperparts dark brown with pale flecks
“Dainty”
Voice: “too-too”
Pacific Flyway Shorebird Survey
Greater vs. Lesser Yellowlegs
http://www.westpascoaudubon.com
Greater Yellowlegs
*larger
*longer, upturned bill
* “tew, tew, tew”
Lesser Yellowlegs
*smaller
*shorter, straighter bill
* “too, too”
Pacific Flyway Shorebird Survey
Wilson’s Phalarope
Size: Medium-small, L: 9”
Bill: Long, slender and dark
Legs: Yellowish
Appearance:
− Gray upperparts
0%
− Gray upperparts
− White underparts
− White rump, pale gray tail
− Wings dark, unstriped
Often feeds by spinning in deep water
© Phil Jeffery
Pacific Flyway Shorebird Survey
Dowitchers
Size: Medium, L: 11”
Bill: Long, straight
Legs: Dull, yellowish
Appearance:
− Upperparts gray
− Breast pale gray with faint spotting; belly ©Jack Binch
23%
− Breast pale gray with faint spotting; belly
white
− White wedge on back in flight
− Tail barred black and white
Feeds with sewing machine motion
©Jack Binch
© 2010 WildDelaware
Pacific Flyway Shorebird Survey
Wilson’s Snipe
Size: Medium, L: 11”
Bill: Long, slender and dark
Legs: Yellowish
Appearance:
− Dark upperparts with bold stripes
on back
1%
on back
− Dark rump, orange tail
− White belly
Very camouflage: often seen or heard
flying away
© Rajiv Lather
Pacific Flyway Shorebird Survey
Wilson’s Snipe vs. Dowitchers
© Mark A. Chappel© Terry Sohl
Wilson’s Snipe
*bold stripes on back
*prefers vegetated areas
Dowitcher spp.
*dark upperparts with no
striping
*feeds with sewing machine
motion
© Mark A. Chappel© Terry Sohl
Pacific Flyway Shorebird Survey
Small Sandpipers
Western Sandpiper (Calidris mauri)
Dunlin (Calidris alpina)
Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla)
© Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularia)
Pacific Flyway Shorebird Survey
Western Sandpiper
Size: Small, L: 7”
Bill: Short, thin, and dark
Thinner at tip than at base
Slightly drooping
Legs: Dark
0%
www.southwestbirders.com
Legs: Dark
Appearance:
− Grayish upperparts
− White underparts
− Faint, partial gray breast band
− Indistinct white supercilium, gray crown and
cheeks
− Rufous scapulars in juveniles
Pacific Flyway Shorebird Survey
Least Sandpiper
Size: World’s smallest shorebird, L: 6”
Bill: Short, thin, and dark; slightly decurved
Legs: Yellowish legs
Apperance:
15%
− Brownish-gray upperparts
− White underparts
− Gray-brown breast band
− Indistinct white supercilium with darker crown
and eyeline
www.giffbeaton.com
Pacific Flyway Shorebird Survey
Western Sandpiper vs. Least Sandpiper
© Joseph Kennedy
• The two common small shorebirds called "peeps" in most of the West.
• Western Sandpiper has black legs, longer bill, droops slightly at tip. In winter, gray or
gray-brown; perhaps the palest "peep.“
• Least Sandpiper has yellowish legs (unless stained by mud), has a shorter bill and is
browner.
Western Sandpiper Least Sandpiper Which are these?
© Joseph Kennedy
Pacific Flyway Shorebird Survey
Dunlin
Size: Small, L: 9”
Bill: Medium, thin, dark, drooping
Legs: Black legs
Appearance:
− Gray upperparts
30%
− Gray upperparts
− Pale indistinct supercilium
− Faintly spotted gray breast
− White belly
− Black patch on rump extending onto tail
© Kjetil Schjølberg
Pacific Flyway Shorebird Survey
Dunlin vs. “peeps”
• Dunlin: Larger and darker gray than peeps with a more obvious wing stripe. Drooping bill
longer than peeps.
• Western Sandpiper: Smaller overall with lighter gray upperparts. Drooping bill is shorter
• Least Sandpiper: Smaller overall with browner upperparts. Yellowish legs and a shorter bill.
Dunlin Western and Least
© Larry Thompson, 2007-2010
Pacific Flyway Shorebird Survey
Spotted Sandpiper
Size: Small, 8”
Bill: Medium and straight
Legs: Short and light colored
Appearance:
0%
© Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
− Plain brown upperparts
− White underparts (non-breeding)
− Brown on sides of breast
− White supercilium
* Usually solitary
* Constantly bobs tail
Pacific Flyway Shorebird Survey
Raptors
Turkey Vulture
Ferruginous
HawkPeregrine Falcon
© Birding-Peru.com
© Ryan DiGaudio
Red-tailed Hawk
Golden Eagle
Cooper’s Hawk
American Kestrel