Coastal Carolina

Catoptrophorus semipalmatus HOW TO IDENTIFY: * Length: 13.5 inches * Sexes similar * Large, plump-looking, long-legged shorebird * Long, thick, straight bill * Bill black or blue-gray with darker tip * Blue-gray legs * Bold black and white wing pattern * Whitish tail with dusky terminal band Adult alternate: * Head, neck, back and upperwings gray-brown mottled with black * Pale stripe above darker lores * Breast and flanks barred extensively with black (in Eastern C.s.semipalmatus) * Breast and flanks barred with narrow dark bars (in Western C.s.inornatus) * White belly Adult basic: * Pale gray-brown head, neck, back, upperwings and breast * Pale area above darker lores * White belly Juvenile: * Warm brown head, neck, back, breast and upperwings * Buff notches on wing feathers appear as white spots on back Similar species: Yellowlegs are smaller and slimmer, with much more slender bills and yellow legs, and lack the striking black-and-white wing pattern. Godwits have much longer, thinner, upturned bills with a pink base and dark tip.

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HOW TO IDENTIFY: * Length: 13.5 inches * Sexes similar * Large, plump-looking, long-legged shorebird * Long, thick, straight bill * Bill black or blue-gray with darker tip * Blue-gray legs * Bold black and white wing pattern * Whitish tail with dusky terminal band Adult alternate: * Head, neck, back and upperwings gray-brown mottled with black * Pale stripe above darker lores * Breast and flanks barred extensively with black (in Eastern C.s.semipalmatus) * Breast and flanks barred with narrow dark bars (in Western C.s.inornatus) * White belly Adult basic: * Pale gray-brown head, neck, back, upperwings and breast * Pale area above darker lores * White belly Juvenile: * Warm brown head, neck, back, breast and upperwings * Buff notches on wing feathers appear as white spots on back Similar species: Yellowlegs are smaller and slimmer, with much more slender bills and yellow legs, and lack the striking black-and-white wing pattern. Godwits have much longer, thinner, upturned bills with a pink base and dark tip.

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Phalaropus tricolor HOW TO IDENTIFY: * Length: 7.5 inches * Fairly small, long-legged shorebird * Often swims, spinning about and picking at the water * Thin, straight, black bill much longer than head * White rump, pale gray tail * Wings dark, unstriped Adult female alternate: * Black legs * Pale gray crown and nape, hindneck whiter * Thick, dark eyeline extends down neck, becoming chestnut, and turns onto back, forming V * White throat and supercilium * Rich rusty foreneck * White breast and belly * Gray back and upperwings * Rusty stripe at base of wings Adult male alternate: * Plumage duller than in female alternate * Black legs * Dark brown crown and eyeline, extending down neck and onto back * Back and upperwings gray-brown * White throat, supercilium, and hindneck * Pale rusty foreneck * White breast and belly Adult basic: * Yellowish legs * Gray crown, hindneck, and back * Pale face with variable black stripe through eye * White throat, breast and belly Juvenile: * Similar to the basic-plumaged adult but browner * More distinct face pattern with a prominent dark cap and dark eye stripe * Buffy wash to the neck and chest * Pale buffy edges to feathers on back and upperwing coverts Similar species: Yellowlegs have longer, brighter yellow legs, spotted upperparts, streaks and bars about head and have a barred tail. Red-necked and Red Phalaropes both have wing stripes and dark rumps and tails, as well as shorter bills. Basic-plumaged Stilt Sandpiper and Wilson's Phalarope are similar, but Stilt Sandpiper has longer legs and dusky streaks on chest and flanks.

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