Show your Bird Portraits

[Don Haines]

I'm inclined to say it is a Least Sandpiper, which is the smallest of the shorebirds (and only slightly larger than a Chickadee). I almost said Baird's, however they have dark gray legs, and are slightly larger...and have maybe a slightly longer bill.

Actually, you did say Baird's, before the edit.   

But I'm inclined to agree that it's a least sandpiper.

There were two yesterday and about 20 today.... I checked my bird books again and they are about the first of the migrating birds to pass through here.

[Don Haines]

I believe this one is a Greater Yellowlegs...

[jrista]

I believe this one is a Greater Yellowlegs...

Aye, Greater Yellowlegs. Key differences are the slightly larger size, and the longer, slightly upturned bill on the greater. Really good shots, Don. Nice, close up, sharp and detailed. I can't wait till these beauties start migrating through Colorado again.

[Jack Douglas]

Ah, since we're on the topic here's one I shot in April I thought was a lesser yellowlegs but I'm being told it's not.  Any idea?

It's a fair sized bird maybe about the size of a Canadian robin.

Jack

[Don Haines]

Ah, since we're on the topic here's one I shot in April I thought was a lesser yellowlegs but I'm being told it's not.  Any idea?

It's a fair sized bird maybe about the size of a Canadian robin.

Jack

One of the defining characteristics of the greater and lesser yellowlegs is "bright yellow legs". My shot above has no colour corrections or adjustments made to it, the legs really are that yellow....

Could yours be a solitary sandpiper? Where did you see it? What part of the world and what habitat? It would make it easier to ID.

[jthomson]

Ah, since we're on the topic here's one I shot in April I thought was a lesser yellowlegs but I'm being told it's not.  Any idea?

It's a fair sized bird maybe about the size of a Canadian robin.

Jack

I'd go with solitary sandpiper as well.

[AlanF]

Ah, since we're on the topic here's one I shot in April I thought was a lesser yellowlegs but I'm being told it's not.  Any idea?

It's a fair sized bird maybe about the size of a Canadian robin.

Jack

Jack
It's a green sandpiper. I took a photo of one with a little egret and a dragonfly on Sunday. Guess which is which?

[serendipidy]

Ah, since we're on the topic here's one I shot in April I thought was a lesser yellowlegs but I'm being told it's not.  Any idea?

It's a fair sized bird maybe about the size of a Canadian robin.

Jack

Jack
It's a green sandpiper. I took a photo of one with a little egret and a dragonfly on Sunday. Guess which is which?

Cool shot, Alan

[Click]

I believe this one is a Greater Yellowlegs...

Yes it is...And it's a great shot also. Nicely done.

[jrista]

Ah, since we're on the topic here's one I shot in April I thought was a lesser yellowlegs but I'm being told it's not.  Any idea?

It's a fair sized bird maybe about the size of a Canadian robin.

Jack

Jack
It's a green sandpiper. I took a photo of one with a little egret and a dragonfly on Sunday. Guess which is which?

Alan, your sandpiper is actually a bit different than Jack's. His is definitely a Solitary Sandpiper, as evidenced by the spots on its back (which your sandpiper lacks...indicating it is in non-breeding plumage, while solitaries maintain their spots in non-breeding plumage.) Additionally, I do not believe Green Sandpipers visit North America, and as Jack is from Canada, that lends more credence to the id being a Solitary Sandpiper.

[AlanF]

Ah, since we're on the topic here's one I shot in April I thought was a lesser yellowlegs but I'm being told it's not.  Any idea?

It's a fair sized bird maybe about the size of a Canadian robin.

Jack

Jack
It's a green sandpiper. I took a photo of one with a little egret and a dragonfly on Sunday. Guess which is which?

Alan, your sandpiper is actually a bit different than Jack's. His is definitely a Solitary Sandpiper, as evidenced by the spots on its back (which your sandpiper lacks...indicating it is in non-breeding plumage, while solitaries maintain their spots in non-breeding plumage.) Additionally, I do not believe Green Sandpipers visit North America, and as Jack is from Canada, that lends more credence to the id being a Solitary Sandpiper.

You are most probably right, but the green sandpiper usually does have spots on its back, mine is a juvenile bird - see Wikipedia:

"This species is a somewhat plump wader with a dark greenish-brown back and wings, greyish head and breast and otherwise white underparts. The back is spotted white to varying extents, being maximal in the breeding adult, and less in winter and young birds. The legs and short bill are both dark green.

It is conspicuous and characteristically patterned in flight, with the wings dark above and below and a brilliant white rump. The latter feature reliably distinguishes it from the slightly smaller but otherwise very similar Solitary Sandpiper (T. solitaria) of North America." Canada is part of the Commonwealth, spelling such words as colour correctly so you never who might be visiting from here.

[Jack Douglas]

Of course I should have given more information!  Here's another shot and it's near Edmonton, Alberta, Canada and this bird has been here since early May (unless what I saw yesterday is a slightly different bird).

Jack

[Pierre Bonenfant]

Great horned owl taken in a park in Québec city



1DlV + 800mm F5.6

Visit my gallery: http://www.pbase.com/pbon/birds__oiseaux&page=all

[fyah5dmarkiii]

Gulls from the bay. Taken with 5dmark ii and 70-200 2.8 ii.

[jrista]

Ah, since we're on the topic here's one I shot in April I thought was a lesser yellowlegs but I'm being told it's not.  Any idea?

It's a fair sized bird maybe about the size of a Canadian robin.

Jack

Jack
It's a green sandpiper. I took a photo of one with a little egret and a dragonfly on Sunday. Guess which is which?

Alan, your sandpiper is actually a bit different than Jack's. His is definitely a Solitary Sandpiper, as evidenced by the spots on its back (which your sandpiper lacks...indicating it is in non-breeding plumage, while solitaries maintain their spots in non-breeding plumage.) Additionally, I do not believe Green Sandpipers visit North America, and as Jack is from Canada, that lends more credence to the id being a Solitary Sandpiper.

You are most probably right, but the green sandpiper usually does have spots on its back, mine is a juvenile bird - see Wikipedia:

"This species is a somewhat plump wader with a dark greenish-brown back and wings, greyish head and breast and otherwise white underparts. The back is spotted white to varying extents, being maximal in the breeding adult, and less in winter and young birds. The legs and short bill are both dark green.

It is conspicuous and characteristically patterned in flight, with the wings dark above and below and a brilliant white rump. The latter feature reliably distinguishes it from the slightly smaller but otherwise very similar Solitary Sandpiper (T. solitaria) of North America." Canada is part of the Commonwealth, spelling such words as colour correctly so you never who might be visiting from here.

"and less in winter and young birds"

"Winter" and "non-breeding" plumage are basically the same thing, so yeah, Wikipedia and I are on the same page. ;P

Fair enough about word spelling, though.