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Sora — Part 5
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Wilson's Phalarope
Northern Phalarope
Avocets and Stilts
(Family Recurvirostridoe)
Usually one sees a small flock of these waders, very long of legs, slender and depressed of body, and with a long, sharp bill, curved upward like an upholsterer's needle or a shoemaker's awl. This bill, which is of extreme sensitiveness, probes the mud in the shallows where the birds wade about for food. Sometimes called wading snipe, they swim, when necessary, as easily and gracefully as they walk. Their plumage may differ with the season, but the sexes and young are alike.
American Avocet
Black-necked Stilt
Snipe, Sandpipers, etc.
(Family Scolopacidoe)
Generally the sensitive bill is long and straight, often several times longer than the head, and frequently curved slightly upward or downward. With this tool these birds probe the sand or mud for food, feeling for what they want, and using the bill also as a forceps. Often the upper prong may be bent at will for hooking the earthworms out. Birds of this numerous family have four toes instead of three; but, in most instances, the structure is very like that of the plovers. Plumage, which is plain colored, varies with the season, but little with the sexes or with age. Usually the female is the larger. These birds average small, the least sandpiper being the smallest of our water fowl. With few exceptions they keep near the water's edge or wherever the ground is soft enough to be easily probed, whether by the sea and rivers or in inland bogs, moist meadows, and thickets. Exclusive when nesting, but not often solitary at other seasons, they are generally gregarious, strongly attached to their companions, and migrate in large flocks. "The voice is a mellow pipe, a sharp bleat, or a harsh scream, according to the species," says Dr. Coues. "Few birds surpass the snipe in sapid quality of flesh, and many kinds rank high in the estimation of the sportsman and epicure."
Woodcock
Wilson's or Jack Snipe
Dowitcher
Long-billed Dowitcher
Stilt Sandpiper
Knot or Robin Snipe
Pectoral Sandpiper
White Rumped Sandpiper
Baird's Sandpiper
Least Sandpiper
Red-backed Sandpiper
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Western Semipalmated Sandpiper
Sanderling or Surf Snipe
Marbled Godwit or Brown Marlin
Greater Yellowlegs
Yellowlegs
Solitary Sandpiper or Tatler
Willet
Bartramian Sandpiper or Upland "Plover"
Buff-breasted Sandpiper
Spotted Sandpiper
Long-billed Curlew
Jack Curlew
Eskimo Curlew or Doe Bird
Plovers
(Family Charadriidoe)
Resembling the snipe in structure, plovers may be distinguished by their moderate or small size, averaging that of the thrush, by their short bills (not longer and generally shorter than the head), which are shaped somewhat like a pigeon's; by their three toes-not an infallible guide, however, since our black-breasted species and two others have four toes;--in having rounded scales on the tarsi; by their plump bodies, short, thick necks, long wings, reaching to the tip of the tail or beyond, and, in some instances, by spurs on the wings. In habits, too, there is a similarity to the preceding group; but the plovers pick their food, which is largely of an animal nature, from the surface of the ground, instead of probing for it, as their shorter bills indicate. They also more frequently visit dry fields and uplands. Rapid runners and fliers, mellow whistlers, gregarious, except at the nesting season, and not shy, plovers are among the best known of our common birds.
Black-breasted Plover Beetle-head
Golden Plover
Kildeer
Semipalmated or Ring-necked Plover
Piping Plover
Belted Piping Plover
Wilson's Plover
Surf Birds and Turnstones
(Family Aphrizidoe)
One member only of this maritime family of four species visits the outer bars and beaches of our sea coast, to turn over shells and pebbles looking for the small animal life it preys upon. Its head and bill resemble a plover's; its wings are long and sharply pointed for sea roaming.
Turnstone or Calico-back
Oyster Catchers
(Family Hoematopodidoe)
The brightly colored bill, twice as long as the head, compressed like a knife blade toward the end, is the chief distinguishing mark of birds of this small family. This tool is used to pry open the shells of mussels, oysters, clams, and other shellfish; hence Dr. Coues suggests oyster-opener as a better name for these birds, since oysters don't run fast! Rather large birds, dark colored and white in masses; the plumage of the sexes similar; the legs stout and rough; no hind toe; the wings long and pointed for long sea flights.
American Oyster Catcher
PHALAROPES
(Family Phalaropodidoe)