BirdsSandpiper-like BirdsAll families
5-7" (13-18 cm). A small whitish plover with pale brown upperparts, black legs, slender black bill, and small black mark on each side of breast. The similar Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus) has stubbier yellow bill and yellow legs.… read more
6 1/2" (16.5 cm). Light gray-brown upperparts (including the rump), a conspicuous dark patch on either side of the breast, a white eyebrow extending back from the white forehead, dark ear coverts, a long, thin, black bill, and slate-colored legs. … read more
7" (19 cm). Black breast band usually wide in center; white eyebrow often extensive, especially in male. Nearly identical to Semipalmated Plover,… read more
6-7" (15-18 cm). Sandy upperparts, narrow, incomplete black breast band, stubby bill with orange base, yellowish legs. Young similar, with black bill, broken gray breast band.… read more
8" (20.5 cm). Warm brown upperparts, bright cinnamon-rufous crown, neck collar, breast band, upperparts; black mask, stripe over white forehead; underparts white; bill, legs blackish. Juveniles, winter adults, underparts white with buffy or grayish patches at sides of breast.… read more
8-9 1/2" (20-24 cm). Breeding adult has black forecrown, white forehead, thin black eye line. In winter adults, young birds, face plain, dark eye conspicuous. In all plumages, whitish wing stripe, whitish wing linings, black band near tail tip.… read more
8-9" (20-23 cm). A chunky Arctic plover. Breeding adult brown above, with bold white eyebrow, white band across breast, and russet breast. Winter adult and young are duller, with buff eyebrows and vague breast band.… read more
6-8" (15-20 cm). Brown-backed plover, white underparts, 1 black breast band. Bill stubby, yellow-orange, dark tip. Immature; all-black bill, brownish breast band. Piping Plover similar but much paler above. Larger Killdeer has 2 black breast bands.… read more
9-11" (23-28 cm). Our largest "ringed" plover. Brown above and white below, with 2 black bands across breast, long legs, and relatively long tail. In flight, shows rusty uppertail coverts and rump.… read more
7-8" (18-20 cm). Male brown above and white below with a broad black eye patch and breast band, and heavy black bill. Female similar, but breast band is brown.… read more
9-11" (23-28 cm). Breeding plumage, dull golden-brown above, black throat, breast, flanks, belly, undertail coverts; bold white stripe runs from forehead, over eye, down side of neck and breast. Winter, has bold whitish eyebrow, grayish-white underparts.… read more
9-11" (23-28 cm). Breeding plumage, narrow white stripe along flanks, mottled black & white undertail coverts. In winter plumage, has buff (not white) eyebrow, warmer brown upperparts, buff (not grayish) underparts.… read more
10-13" (25-33 cm). Breeding adults gray, flecked light/dark above; black on face, breast; white on belly. Winter, face, breast, white. White wing stripe, white rump, black patch under wing. Young, upperparts flecked, yellow, breast, belly finely streaked.… read more
12" (30.5 cm). A large, upland shorebird. Upperparts dark, glossed with greenish; underparts white with broad black breast band; head with black crown and long wispy crest. In flight has broad rounded wings with white tips and wing linings.… read more
17-17 1/2" (43-44 cm). A large stocky shorebird, black with a long, stout, red bill. American Oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus), boldly patterned in black and white, breeds in Baja California and is a casual visitor to California.… read more
17-21" (43-53 cm). A large stocky shorebird, boldly patterned in blackish brown and white. Bill long and red; legs and feet pink. Shows bold white wing patch in flight.… read more
13-16" (33-41 cm). A slender, long-legged shorebird. Black above, white below; head patterned in black and white; neck long; bill long and thin; legs very long, red, and slender.… read more
16-20" (41-51 cm). A large, long-legged shorebird with a slender, upturned bill. Upperparts and wings patterned in black and white; underparts white. Head and neck rust-colored in summer, white in winter.… read more
8" (20.5 cm). Upperparts brown, barred and lightly streaked with dark; upper breast finely streaked, underparts white. Longer tail and more white in wing help to distinguish juvenile and winter adult from Spotted Sandpiper.… read more
7 1/2" (19 cm). Bobs tail almost constantly. Breeding adults are brown above, with bold white wing stripe, white below with bold black spots on breast and belly. Fall birds lack black spots below, have brownish smudge at sides of breast.… read more
10" (25 cm). Breeding adults have blackish upperparts spotted with white, chestnut, whitish underparts barred with black. Winter birds dark gray above and on breast. All plumages have bold white wing stripe, white rump.… read more
8-10" (20-25 cm). A stocky shorebird with orange legs. Upperparts mainly rusty red in summer, brown in winter; underparts white. Face, breast have conspicuous black markings, duller but still visible in winter. Bold pattern of black and white visible in flight.… read more
9" (23 cm). Breeding plumage, black upperparts, head, breast; large white spot in front of eye, white line above eye; fine white spotting, nape across side of breast; white belly. Legs dark. Bill short, slightly upturned. In flight, shows black/white pattern.… read more
11-12 1/2" (28-32 cm). Long yellowish legs, slender neck, small head, short bill. Upperparts brown, scaly, underparts streaked, barred. Tail long, wedge-shaped. Often holds wings upward briefly on alighting, exposing black and white barring on underwing.… read more
8 1/2" (22 cm). Brownish overall, cap redder, eyebrow broader. Breast pale, buff colored, with faint streaking limited to sides in immatures; breast pattern not sharply contrasting.… read more
8" (20 cm). A starling-sized shorebird with conspicuous white wing stripe. Summer adults have rufous head and breast, white belly. In winter, rufous areas replaced by pale gray, and birds look almost white. Bill and legs black.… read more
8 1/2" (22 cm). A starling-sized shorebird. Bill fairly long, with distinct droop at tip. Breeding adults have reddish back, whitish underparts, with black patch in center of belly. Winter birds are dull gray, paler below.… read more
7 1/2" (19 cm). Short straight bill; wing tips extend beyond end of tail giving bird a "pointed" look behind. Breeding adults have buff tinge on face, splotchy pattern on upperparts. Juveniles have buff face, breast, bold white scaling on upperparts.… read more
10.5" (27 cm). Breeding adults have pinkish-rufous face and underparts, dark brown upperparts with pale feather edgings. Fall birds gray above, whitish below. Rump dark; wing stripe faint; bill straight and slightly tapered; legs greenish.… read more
8" (20 cm). Entire bill noticeably curved. Summer adults are rich cinnamon or chestnut. Winter birds gray above and white below. Immatures have buff breast, upperparts marked with buff scaling. White rump visible in flight.… read more
7 1/2" (19 cm). Short straight bill, white rump. Wing tips extend beyond end of tail. Breeding, tinge of rusty color on crown, ear coverts, dark brown streaks or spots on flanks. Fall, gray upperparts, gray wash on breast, a narrow, pale eyebrow.… read more
8 1/2" (22 cm). A starling-sized sandpiper with long greenish legs and long bill, slightly down-curved at tip. Wings lack stripe. Breeding adult has chestnut head stripes and barring below. Nonbreeding birds have much paler plumage and a white line over the eye.… read more
9" (23 cm). Breeding birds finely streaked with brown and black on head and neck, heavily spotted on breast. Winter adults mainly dark slate, with whitish spot in front of eye, and yellow legs. Bill dull orange with black tip.… read more
6 1/2" (17 cm). Similar to Semipalmated Sandpiper and not always easy to distinguish, but bill tends to be longer, with more evident droop at tip. In summer, crown and upper back rusty; in winter, crown and upper back dull gray.… read more
9" (23 cm). A chunky, somewhat short-legged wader with heavily streaked breast sharply delineated from unmarked white belly. Legs yellow. In flight, wings dark with no prominent stripe.… read more
6" (15 cm). The smallest of American shorebirds. Brownish above, with yellowish or greenish legs, short thin bill, and streaked breast. Grayer in winter plumage. Bill shorter, thinner, and more pointed than in Semipalmated or Western sandpipers.… read more
8-9" (20-23 cm). Winter birds plain slate-gray on head, breast, and upperparts; dark bill has pale base. Breeding birds rusty above, with pale head and dark ear patch, black patch on lower breast (not on belly as in Dunlin). Legs greenish yellow.… read more
5 1/2-6 3/4" (14-17 cm). Slightly larger than Least Sandpiper. In all plumages, grayer above with less-streaked breast than other "peeps." Feet black. Bill black, short, drooping slightly at tip; noticeably stouter than bill of Least Sandpiper.… read more
6 1/2" (17 cm). Breeding: face, neck, and upper breast rufous (reddish-brown), with white chin spot, and rest of underparts white; upperparts rufous and brown with black blotches. Fall birds lack rufous tone. Rump dark, bill and feet black, white wing stripe.… read more
15" (38 cm). A large shorebird, gray-brown, with a long straight bill. Best identified in flight by its flashy black and white wing pattern. Gray legs and thicker bill distinguish it from Greater Yellowlegs.… read more
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