Posted by Gary Potter (198.81.17.187) on June 07, 2001 at 21:42:05:
I agree with Phil that the two foreground birds are juveniles. For most of the same reasons I think that they are Short-billed. The general buffy coloration of the breast and face are most like juvenile Short-billed. I don't think the tertials are visible on either bird. The dark feathers seem to be the tips of the remiges, but if they are tertials, that throws a monkey wrench into the identification of these two individuals. The other draw back is that in my experience with western Short-billed, the belly is usually white or whitish, which does not seem to be the case with these two birds. However, Sibley modifies the white belly (at least on adults) with the word "usually" so maybe the buffy belly on the juveniles is o.K. Any way I think that juvenile Long-billed would more grayish around the face and breast. Also Phil's comment about the early date for Long-billed is well taken. I also agree that the right bird is an adult Short-billed based on the whitish tail. The very worn adult on the back left seems to be missing remiges along with a lot of other feathers. Since Short-billed usually molt remiges on the wintering grounds, I think that the combination of the date, and missing remiges seems to point to Long-billed for this bird. Its beat up condition makes the identification of this bird very difficult. I love shorebirds! -- Gary