Answers & solutions
Check your answers against our explanations. Remember, as ever, there are no ‘trick’ birds or extreme rarities among those here
BIRD 2
If you are thinking that this wader just looks like one of those hundreds or even thousands of small, dumpy waders you see every autumn, then at least you are thinking along the right lines. The relatively large head suggests a small bird, as does the short-necked structure. The long, slightly down-curved bill combined with the dumpy shape, suggests this little fellow is a Calidris sandpiper. The length of the bill narrows it mainly to Dunlin, Curlew Sandpiper or Purple Sandpiper. The latter is a darker bird, than this, though. Though they are longer necked, longer billed and more graceful looking than Dunlins, perhaps the best way of separating juvenile Curlew Sandpipers is their clean, unmarked flanks. The flank streaks and spots on this bird confirm it is a juvenile Dunlin.
Key features
■ Dumpy, rounded calidrid sandpiper
■ Long, slightly down-curved bill
■ Diagnostic flank streaking
■ Neat back/wing fringing of a typical juvenile wader
BIRD 1
We start with a wader which most birdwatchers will have at least half a chance of naming correctly. The rounded shape, relatively large head (which at least suggests a small species), the distinctive white collar, and ‘ghosts’ of dark bands ‘through’ the eye and on the shoulders, strongly suggest this is one of the ringed plovers, or a Kentish Plover (ruled out by the large size of the shoulder patch). The pale fringing of the brown upperpart feathers is shared by juveniles of both birds. Shape/structure are useful features in distinguishing the small plovers. This one has a fine, pointed ( black) bill, and long wings giving an attenuated look. Both the latter are pro-LRP characters. And confirmation that this is a Little Ringed Plover is the yellow eye-ring.
Key features
■ Small, dumpy ‘ringed plover’
■ Fine black bill
■ Attenuated rear end
■ Diagnostic yellow eye-ring
BIRD 3
On both Bird 1 and Bird 2, the relatively large head has suggested a smaller wader. The idea is that on birds of a similar type, ones with relatively large heads tend to be smaller and one with a relatively small head will often be larger. Well, this bird has a small head suggesting it is a larger wader. The big, dark eye and short, straight, almost stubby bill
( by wader standards) gives a strong indication that this is a plover. But this larger, spangled-backed bird is clearly not a close relative of the small ringed plovers (like Bird 1). Instead, it looks to be a Grey Plover or one of the golden plovers. The thick bill, and almost monochrome, black-andwhite plumage all point to this being a Grey Plover. As with most wading birds, the regular and neat pale fringing of the upperparts implies juvenile.
Key features
■ Relatively small head suggests larger wader
■ Beady eye and short bill of a plover
■ Black-and-white spangled, monochrome plumage
■ Longish, strongish, dark grey legs
BIRD 4
We don’t want this ID Challenge to be too easy, do we? Here is a species that most of us don’t see in juvenile plumage that often. But it is not a rare bird, and there should be plenty enough on show here to name it with a high degree of confidence. In terms of structure, it looks very similar to Bird 2, perhaps with a slightly shorter, but still quite long, down-curved bill. It is reasonable to conclude that this is another Calidris sandpiper (the small, dumpy, down-curved bill jobs). Three things are particularly striking: the dark grey plumage; white fringed blackish back and wing feathers; and the orange-toned legs ( black on Dunlins and most other Calidris sandpipers). This combination of features is unique to the juvenile Purple Sandpiper, a bird more familiar as adults on rocky shores in winter.
Key features
■ Dunlin-like structure and bill shape
■ Dark plumage
■ Clean white fringing on blackish back/wing feathers
■ Orange-red legs and feet
BIRD 5
Just as the small, dumpy sandpipers with slightly down-curved bills tend to be in the genus Calidris, so the medium-sized, slim and elegant sandpipers with straight bills tend to be in the genus Tringa. This bird falls into the latter camp. It looks to be longlegged, slim and elegant, with that long, slim, straight bill. The plumage is chocolate brown all over, neatly barred and spotted in white. The legs are bright orange and the base of the lower mandible is reddish. These features all point to this being either a Redshank or a Spotted Redshank. Perhaps the easiest way to rule out Redshank is the length of the bill, but the barring even on the undertail coverts confirms this is a juvenile Spotted Redshank.
Key features
■ Long-legged, elegant wader
■ Long, straight, narrow bill
■ Orange legs
■ Barred even on undertail coverts
BIRD 6
We finish this month’s ID Challenge with yet another sandpiper. Indeed, though slimmer than Bird 2 and Bird 4, it has a ‘rounded’ shape, relatively short legs and a slightly down-curved bill, so is probably also a Calidris sandpiper. But those yellow legs are unusual for calidrids (and may be useful for ID?). Key features include a prominent, long, whitish supercilium (‘eyebrow’); orange base to bill; warm rufous colours on neatly fringed back; white ‘ lines’ formed by some of the fringes on the wings and back; attenuated long rear end; and what appears to be a creeping stance; dark streaked breast with a sharp contact against the pure white belly. All these features add up to this being a juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper a scarce but regular visitor.
Key features
■ Slim, attenuated wader
■ Medium-short, slightly down-curved bill
■ Clear demarcation of streaked breast and white belly
■ Beautifully fringed upperparts, forming ‘white lines’