Part 14

Description.—Smaller than Robin. Adults in summer: Upperparts black, the feathers margined with creamy buff, a distinct superciliary line of buffy white; rump and upper tail-coverts black, narrowly tipped with buffy; middle tail-feathers brownish gray, narrowly margined with white; underparts white, the neck and breast rather heavily but finely streaked with blackish and buffy brown. Adults in winter and immature: Similar, but the general appearance much more reddish brown. Length: 9 inches.

Range in Pennsylvania.—Recorded chiefly at Erie; a rather rare and irregular migrant in spring from March 20 to May 15; somewhat more common and regular in midsummer and fall, occurring from late July to late October, though it is highly probable that individuals do not remain in one place during this period. As nesting duties in the north are completed, the immature birds and adults in fresh plumage come south in flocks.

The shore-birds are not, as a rule, common in Pennsylvania. There are not many extensive mud-flats where they may feed, and many of the streams have been polluted, destroying the animal food. Erie is such an admirable resting and feeding-ground for such birds that many of them stop there after their flight across Lake Erie, then strike out to the southward, flying over most of Pennsylvania.

The White-rumped Sandpiper (Pisobia fuscicollis), which resembles the Pectoral Sandpiper but has a distinctly white rump, is a rare migrant, noted chiefly at Erie and in the Pymatuning Swamp region. The Baird’s Sandpiper (Pisobia bairdi) is rare, save at Erie, where it is a fairly regular and common fall migrant from late August to the end of September.

LEAST SANDPIPER Pisobia minutilla (Vieillot)

Other Names.—Meadow Peep; Oxeye.

Description.—About as large as an English Sparrow. Adults in spring: Upperparts black, margined and tipped with buffy and reddish brown; rump and upper tail-coverts black; middle tail-feathers black, outer ones ashy gray; throat, superciliary, and narrow ring about eye, white; neck and breast buffy, streaked with dark brown; rest of underparts white, the sides with narrow streaks of dusky; bill blackish; feet dull green. Adults and young in winter: Upperparts brownish gray; breast pale brownish gray or grayish, indistinctly streaked. Length: 6 inches.

Range in Pennsylvania.—The Least Sandpiper occurs with some regularity both in spring and fall throughout the Commonwealth. It may be found at almost any wayside puddle or along the margins of streams from early May until about the end of the month and from mid-August to early October, and is particularly common at Erie.

The Least Sandpiper is noticeably smaller than the common Spotted Sandpiper and does not have that species’ habit of “tipping up” its tail. It is, however, very similar in general appearance to the Semipalmated Sandpiper, which may occur at the same time, but differs in having green feet, and (if the bird be in the hand) in having no partial webs between the toes.

RED-BACKED SANDPIPER Pelidna alpina pacifica Coues

Description.—About the size of a Spotted Sandpiper; bill slightly curved at tip. Adults in spring: Back and scapulars bright reddish brown, the feathers with dark centers; breast white, finely streaked with dark brown; large black patch on middle of belly; lower belly white. Adults and young in winter: Upperparts gray, wing-coverts gray, edged with buffy; underparts white, the breast grayish, the sides sometimes somewhat streaked. Length: 8 inches.

Range in Pennsylvania.—A migrant, rare in spring, fairly common in fall, especially at Erie, where it has been noted from mid-August to late October.

The gay spring plumage of this species is easily remembered. In the gray winter plumage it is not so easy to recognize, but its somewhat curved bill is diagnostic.

SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER Ereunetes pusillus (Linnæus)

Description.—About as large as an English Sparrow; half-webs between the front toes, which are responsible for the bird’s name. Adults in spring: Upperparts dark brown, plumage margined with brownish gray and traces of reddish brown; rump grayish brown; upper tail-coverts blackish; tail gray, central feathers darkest; underparts white, with faint streaking on breast. Young birds in their first fall plumage have a somewhat scaly appearance above as a result of the buffy tips and borders of the feathers; their breasts are buffy, unstreaked; bill black; feet blackish. Length: A little over 6 inches.

Range in Pennsylvania.—A migrant, commoner in the fall than in the spring, and noted chiefly at Erie. It occurs during May and from late July or early August to late September.

The legs and feet of this species are black; in the Least Sandpiper they are greenish. The bill of this species is about straight; that of the Least Sandpiper is slightly decurved at the tip; in any age or plumage the Semipalmated Sandpiper may be recognized when in the hand by its partially webbed front toes.

SANDERLING Crocethia alba (Pallas)

Description.—Three toes; a little smaller than Robin. Adults in summer: Head, back, lower throat, and sides of breast, rusty brown, the feathers edged with whitish and centered with black; wings with white area on basal half of inner flight-feathers; belly and narrow margins of tail-feathers white. Adults in winter: Gray above, white below, with white face and eye-ring. Young in first winter plumage: Whitish, streaked with black above; breast buffy; rest of underparts white. Length: 8 inches.

Range in Pennsylvania.—An abundant fall migrant at Erie from late July on; rare elsewhere.

GREATER YELLOW-LEGS Totanus melanoleucus (Gmelin)

Other Name.—Yellow-legs Snipe.

Description.—Larger than Robin; legs very long and yellow; bill long, slender, and straight. Adults: Upperparts black; head and neck streaked with white; feathers of back spotted and barred with whitish; upper tail-coverts and tail white, barred with black; underparts white, breast spotted and sides barred with black. Adults and young in winter: Similar but with less striking markings both above and below; sides only slightly barred; bill and eyes black. Length: 14 inches.

Range in Pennsylvania.—A fairly common migrant throughout, to be observed at small pools and larger bodies of water from mid-April until May and from early August to latter October; not often seen in flocks.

The Greater and Lesser Yellow-legs are much alike in appearance, this species being much the larger. Their loud, clear whistles and their habit of lifting their wings high above their backs as they alight are characteristic.

LESSER YELLOW-LEGS Totanus flavipes (Gmelin)

Other Names.—Summer Yellow-legs; Yellow-legs.

Description.—Remarkably similar to the Greater Yellow-legs in all respects, even in habits, but noticeably smaller, even in the field. Length: Almost 11 inches.