Pectoral Sandpiper

Calidris melanotos

HOW TO IDENTIFY:

* Length: 7.5 inches
* Medium-sized shorebird
* Medium-sized, thin, dark bill
* Yellow legs
* Black patch on rump extending onto tail
* Thin, white wing stripe
* Sexes similar

Adult alternate:

* Brown head with dark streaks
* Pale supercilium
* Black back feathers and wing coverts with brown edges
* Brown breast with fine streaks ending abruptly and contrasting with white underparts

Adult basic:

* Similar to adult alternate
* Upperparts a duller brown

Juvenile:

* Similar to adult alternate
* Back feathers and wing coverts with pale brown, rust, or golden edges
* White 'V's on back
* Dark rusty crown

Similar species:

With its abrupt demarcation between the brown breast and the white underparts and yellow legs, the Pectoral Sandpiper is quite distinctive. It is larger than the peeps but shorter-billed and shorter-legged than dowitchers, yellowlegs, and Stilt Sandpipers. The rare Sharp-tailed Sandpiper is quite similar, but has more markings on the flanks. Juveniles have a redder crown and a more obvious supercilium.