Sandpipers are worse than gulls to ID. I need help on this one!
Posted by Jim DeWitt on November 14, 2009 at 2:59 PM
Phil -
Peeps are hard. I assume this photo was taken in the summer. On that assumption, I can narrow it to either a Western or Semipalmated. The bills is short for a Western, but the head is turned slightly away and bill length is variable, anyway. The supercilium - the "eyebrow" - isn't very strong, which argues for a Western. The chest coloration runs pretty low, which also argues for a Western. The bill tip doesn't droop, which argues for a Semi, but that's not definitive in a juvenile.
Bottom line: more likely a Western than a Semipalmated, but I can't be definitive. Do you have other shots?
Nice photo, by the way. The low angle really helps.
Posted by Buck Ward on November 14, 2009 at 3:14 PM
I'm no peep expert, but that bill looks kinda ploverish.
Discussion
6 repliesPeeps are hard. I assume this photo was taken in the summer. On that assumption, I can narrow it to either a Western or Semipalmated. The bills is short for a Western, but the head is turned slightly away and bill length is variable, anyway. The supercilium - the "eyebrow" - isn't very strong, which argues for a Western. The chest coloration runs pretty low, which also argues for a Western. The bill tip doesn't droop, which argues for a Semi, but that's not definitive in a juvenile.
Bottom line: more likely a Western than a Semipalmated, but I can't be definitive. Do you have other shots?
Nice photo, by the way. The low angle really helps.