Dunlin (Calidris alpina hudsonia) 26 August 2016. Woodwards Cove, Grand Manan, New Brunswick, CA



North American populations almost invariably molt before migrating so this is the first time I have encountered this species in juvenal plumage. Note neatly fringed upperparts and heavily spotted underparts with the spots coalescing into a dark belly patch reminiscent of the adult in breeding plumage. This is presumably the eastern North American race C. a. hudsonia. Of the nine or so recognized subspecies, this race is characterized by relatively large size, long bill, faint breast streaking and large belly patch in breeding plumage.
Digiscoped with Panasonic DMC-LX5 | hand-held (no adapter).

References:

Chandler, R. (2009). Shorebirds of North America, Europe, and Asia: A photographic guide. Princeton.

Warnock, Nils D. and Robert E. Gill. (1996). Dunlin (Calidris alpina), The Birds of North America (P. G. Rodewald, Ed.). Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Ornithology; Retrieved from the Birds of North America: https://birdsna.org/Species-Account/bna/species/dunlin
[ Back to Photo Gallery ] [ Home ]