October 19th, 2005. Hatfield/Whately, MA.
| Unidentified sandpipers Calidris sp (2 juveniles).
| | Update on Nov 2nd -
Of the opinions that we’ve received to date,
most still favor Baird’s vs White-rumped by 18:7. | Killian
Mullarney has kindly captioned his own interpretations of the
features seen on the two sandpipers shown in Mark Taylor’s image taken on
October 19th. The images which started the discussion can be
seen here, when these peeps were first thought to be Baird's Sandpipers.
| Killian's post to ID-Frontiers on October 30th;
"Hi James,
This is an interesting identification problem, and one that is perhaps
ignored, or at least neglected a little, on account of the fact that
with good views, or good photographs there really isn't much of a
problem telling Baird's from White-rumped - especially if the rump is
revealed!
While I ought to know better than to express a definite view on the
basis of such marginal record shots, I consider a number of features of
these birds more indicative of White-rumped than of Baird's. These are,
in no particular order:
1) The bills of both birds look slightly too decurved, and possibly
slightly thicker at the base than is typical of Baird's; in combination
with aspects of the head-pattern (see points 2 and 6, below), this
gives an impression reminiscent of a well-marked Dunlin, something I
associate more with White-rumped than with Baird's.
2) The supercilium seems to be rather distinct and whitish behind the
eye, apparently as bright as the white in front of the eye; on Baird's
the rear supercilium tends to be a little subdued in tone, but
conspicuous by virtue of its width.
3) The closer bird appears to have quite a well-marked white scapular stripe, typical of a juv White-rumped.
4) I think I can detect a definite suggestion of quite bright rufous
fringes to the innermost greater coverts (on the closer of the two
birds) and possibly also a hint of the same colour toward the
forwardmost upper scapulars on the bird at the rear. This, again is
something that suggests White-rumped rather than Baird's.
5) It is hard to be sure, and I concede it may well be exaggerated by
photographic artefact of some kind, but it seems to me that the wing
coverts on the closer bird have distinctly whiter TIPS than fringes,
and the brightness of these tips is emphasised by what look like dark
sub-terminal marks; doesn't the resulting impression of prominently
white-tipped coverts (forming wing-bars) match juv White-rumped better
than Baird's?
6)
Finally, there seems to be more of a hint of warmth on the ear
coverts/crown than is usual in Baird's, and this too is reminiscent of
White-rumped.
I absolutely agree that these are not Pectorals!
Regards,
Killian Mullarney"
| Image appears by courtesy of Mark Taylor
with captions courtesy of Killian Mullarney.
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