Nemesis Bird
1Dec/1017

Mystery Bird Quiz

written by Alex Lamoreaux

MYSTERY BIRD QUIZ

Above is the first of what I hope continues to be a semi-regular set of "mystery bird quizzes" here on Nemesis Bird. This photo shows three gray and white birds landing. The was taken by me, somewhere in Pennsylvania on October 25th, 2009. If you would like to participate in the quiz, please leave your answer as a comment on this post! Once quite a few guesses have been entered, I will post an answer with a full explaination of what the birds are and why. Have fun! 

Filed under: identification, quiz birds, shorebirds Leave a comment
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  • Kyle

    How about a stilt sandpiper and two dunlin?

  • Squirrel

    Shorebirds in flight are not my strength, but here goes: A Greater Yellowlegs (middle) with two Dunlin?

  • Paul

    I’m going to guess 2 dunlins on the right and a lesser yellowlegs on the left…

  • http://abqbirding.wordpress.com Matt O’Donnell

    Definitely a Stilt Sandpiper in the middle. The bird in front looks kind of like a Dunlin and the top one is a peep–the bill looks too long for a Semipalmated, but Western along with Stilt and Dunlin would be an amazing trio for PA!

  • Paul Leonard

    Hi Alex,

    My guess is, Stilt Sandpiper (left upper) + 2 Dunlin.

    Cheers,

    Paul

  • http://www.nabirding.com Greg Neise

    Top and bottom, Dunlin. Bird in the middle with yellow legs and rather prominent supercilium: Stilt sandpiper.

  • http://surfbirds.com Brian Small

    Two Dunlin and a Stilt Sandpiper.

    Brian Small

  • Michael

    Stilt Sandpiper (centre), two Dunlin (above and below)

  • http://www.birdingisfun.com Birding is Fun!

    My guess is Stilt Sandpiper and two Dunlin.

  • http://timschreckengost.blogspot.com/ Tim Schreckengost

    They look like Dunlin to me, but I cannot account for the one with the yellow legs. That’s my best guess though.

  • http://timschreckengost.blogspot.com/ Tim Schreckengost

    Ok, then Stilt Sandpiper for the bird with the yellow legs. Final Answers.

  • Nick Bolgiano

    Alex,

    Nice picture. In late October in PA, only a few shorebirds might be expected: I think that the center bird is a lesser yellowlegs and the other 2 are dunlins. The center bird has longer legs and neck, the greyish streaking of a yellowlegs, and the yellow legs. Its bill isn’t long enough to be a greater. The other two are grey, with brownish bibs, decurved bills, white underwing linings with dark edges, and are slightly smaller.

  • Justin Bosler

    Two Dunlins with a Stilt Sandpiper in the middle.

  • Matti Lammin-Soila

    1 Stilt Sandpiper on the left, and 2 Dunlins.

  • http://www.nepabirdproject.org Kevin Ripka

    I’d like to jump on the 2 Dunlin, 1 Stilt Sandpiper bandwagon but, at first just based on bill, the back one looks like it’s possibly different. Is that a lighting artifact or a white rump on that back bird? It doesn’t look like the dark goes all the way up on the rump. Given the date, White-rumped is a good possibility. However the wings don’t look long, but is that angle? I’ll venture 1 Dunlin, 1 Stilt Sand, and 1 White-rumped Sand.

  • http://belltowerbirding.blogspot.com Jochen

    It seems Kevin beat me to it: Stilt Sand, Dunlin, White-rumped Sand is my guess as well.

  • Rgrhill

    the bird in the middle looks good for stilt sand. the others look to be curlew sandpipers,due to the long bill and white rump.


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