Look For The graceful curves of the American avocet’s bill and neck serve it well as it feeds while walking along, sweeping the bill back and forth in shallow water. In spring and summer, adults have rusty heads and necks. In winter, the heads are gray. Black wings are divided by white. Listen For A […]
Anyone coming upon a willet standing on a winter beach may be excused for thinking it a dull bird. It seems to be without distinguishing characteristics, a brown-and-white wallflower among better-dressed kin. But then it opens its wings, and you see that there is more to this bird than meets the eye. Large (14 to
The sanderling is the sandpiper most often encountered near where the waves crash. To make a safe identification of an adult sanderling outside of spring, note what the sanderling does not have: streaks, spots, or brown markings. Adults are smooth and silvery above and clear white below. Often, a blackish shoulder patch is visible. The
From April through September, the ruddy turnstone has a zebra-striped face and breast and rusty (or ruddy) wings. The rest of the year, the bird wears a much-faded version of this plumage. Its short legs remain orange year-round. Listen For A ternlike klew! alarm call, plus an unmusical chatter, kkkkkkkrrrkkkkkrr. Remember Even in its dull winter plumage, the
