ML104580071

Age and sex

Adult, Unknown sex - X

Observation details

Bright individual foraging among other shorebirds, at times quite near to a duo of Red-necked Stints which allowed for great comparisons. A compact calidrid, approximately the same size as a Semipalmated Sandpiper or Red-necked Stint with very little, if any Primary Projection. Upperparts quite bright rufous with wide feather edges (reddish) and black centers. Rufousy-gold edges to the primaries. 2 gold-yellow "braces" running down the length of the back were quite conspicuous. Face and head were rusty with dark streaking on the crown. Pale line through the eye appeared to widen towards the back. Rusty coloration with some limited streaking on either side of the breast. Clean white underparts and throat standing in sharp contrast to bright upperparts and face. Black legs and bill. Bill relatively short and tapering to a fine point with no noticeable drooping towards the tip. At times was heard giving a high thin "pit" call note similar to a Semipalmated Sandpiper but higher pitched and thinner. Bill structure not consistent with Red-necked Stint. White throat diagnostic for Little Stint rather than Red-necked. Bright reddish edges of the primaries also highly suggestive of Little rather than Red-necked Stint, which was a feature that was easily compared between the Red-necked Stints and Little Stint present. Frenetically feeding among accumulated garbage and constantly picking at ground. Foraging style seemed more energetic than that of the Red-necked Stints present. Thanks to Doug Gochfeld for getting us on this bird.

Technical information

Model

Canon EOS 40D

ISO

500

Focal length

400 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire, auto

f-stop

f/5.6

Shutter speed

0.01 sec

Dimensions

2630 pixels x 1753 pixels

Original file size

844.15 KB