Sandpipers. Which is which?

There are sandpipers everywhere around me on Bird Shoal, an uninhabited island across from town. I focus my camera on photographing one small enchanting bird that’s darting across the sand right in front of me.

While out in the field, I snap lots of photographs. Now I need to attach a name to each bird. With sandpipers, that can be a challenge. Ask any experienced birder. It’s tough to distinguish the subtle differences between species.

Although the variety of sandpipers and plovers shifts from season to season, there are at least three year-round residents: Willets, Sanderlings, and Piping Plovers. Many other species visit only during the fall or winter months, wearing their grayish non-breeding plumage, like these …

Ruddy Turnstone
Black-bellied Plover
Killdeer
Semi-palmated Sandpiper
Semi-palmated Sandpiper
Sanderling
Killdeer
Semi-palmated Sandpiper
Black-bellied Plover
Willet
Willet
Whimbrel
Greater Yellowlegs
Short-billed Dowitcher
Greater Yellowlegs
Marbled Godwit
Short-billed Dowitcher
Short-billed Dowitcher

During the spring and summer months, the population of sandpipers and plovers changes, adding several other species. The birds are in full breeding plumage, which is more distinctly spotted or streaked.

On a summer visit, I had the good fortune to encounter some plover chicks and juveniles…

Here are related bird posts to visit: 

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