It’s that time of year again. Shorebirds are starting to filter south as the breeding season completes. These adults look different than they did in the spring, and some of them can be downright confusing. Here is a quiz to test your skills at shorebird ID. Photos were all taken by Alex Lamoreaux.
Shorebirds
Congratulations - you have completed Shorebirds.
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Question 1 |
Western Sandpiper | |
Pectoral Sandpiper | |
Red-necked Stint | |
Least Sandpiper | |
Semipalmated Sandpiper |
Question 1 Explanation:
Yellow legs rule out other small peeps.
Question 2 |
Pectoral Sandpiper | |
White-rumped Sandpiper | |
Baird's Sandpiper | |
Semipalmated Sandpiper | |
Buff-breasted Sandpiper |
Question 2 Explanation:
Buffy breast band, larger size than peep on the right making it either a White-rumped or Baird's Sandpiper. White-rumped would show orange on base of bill and have more streaking on chest than buff wash.
Question 3 |
Least Sandpiper | |
Baird's Sandpiper | |
Semipalmated Sandpiper | |
Pectoral Sandpiper | |
Western Sandpiper |
Question 3 Explanation:
Small size compared to shorebird on the left. Red wash, pointy bill and yellow legs point to Least Sandpiper.
Question 5 |
Lesser Yellowlegs | |
Solitary Sandpiper | |
Wilson's Phalarope | |
Stilt Sandpiper | |
Red Knot |
Question 5 Explanation:
Slender shape and stripes of color running up the neck make this a phalarope. Long and very thin bill separate Wilson's from other phalaropes.
Question 6 |
White-rumped Sandpiper | |
Least Sandpiper | |
Pectoral Sandpiper | |
Western Sandpiper | |
Semipalmated Sandpiper |
Question 7 |
White-rumped Sandpiper | |
Red Knot | |
Semipalmated Sandpiper | |
Baird's Sandpiper | |
Western Sandpiper |
Question 7 Explanation:
Longer, tapered profile which is a result of wings projecting past the tail. Orange color at the base of the bill.
Question 8 |
White-rumped Sandpiper | |
Least Sandpiper | |
Little Stint | |
Baird's Sandpiper | |
Semipalmated Sandpiper |
Question 8 Explanation:
Fall Semipalmated Sandpipers are typically very gray. Thick stubby bill and dark legs.
Question 9 |
Pectoral Sandpiper | |
Little Stint | |
Semipalmated Sandpiper | |
Least Sandpiper | |
Baird's Sandpiper |
Question 9 Explanation:
Notice the yellow legs, decurved bill the comes to a point and wings shorter than tail.
Question 10 |
White-rumped Sandpiper | |
Pectoral Sandpiper | |
Stilt Sandpiper | |
Western Sandpiper | |
Baird's Sandpiper |
Question 10 Explanation:
Orangish legs and distinctive breast band.
Question 11 |
Pectoral Sandpiper | |
White-rumped Sandpiper | |
Western Sandpiper | |
Semipalmated Sandpiper | |
Least Sandpiper |
Question 11 Explanation:
Lots of breast streaking, bright red ear patch and scapulars and longer thicker based bill.
Question 12 |
Baird's Sandpiper | |
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper | |
White-rumped Sandpiper | |
Pectoral Sandpiper | |
Least Sandpiper |
Question 12 Explanation:
Orangish legs and distinctive breast band.
Once you are finished, click the button below. Any items you have not completed will be marked incorrect.
There are 12 questions to complete.
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Drew Weber
I am a young ornithologist originally from PA but now living in central New York. I am pursuing a master's degree at Penn State University studying grassland birds and their relationships with different agricultural practices. When I am not working feverishly on my thesis, I enjoy adding new birds to my county, state and life lists, digiscoping and getting outdoors. I am active in the Pennsylvania birding community as chairman of the bird records committee, as well as a reviewer for sightings submitted to eBird.
Some topics that really interest me are migration, bird distributions and vagrancy.
Contact me if you have any questions about birds and birding in PA.
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