What kind of bird is this?

September 23, 2006 8:36 PM

What kind of bird is this?

Photo 1 and Photo 2

This bird was photographed foraging in a large mud puddle on the banks of a small river in NH. It appears to be some kind of sandpiper, but none of the photos I found on Google were close enough for me to make a positive ID. Could be immature. The photos don't give you a good sense of the bird's size, but it was farly small.

As is the case with most questions to the hive mind, I imagine this is an easy question for the right person. Thanks!

posted by dweingart to Science & Nature (9 answers total)

I think it's a plover.
posted by Steven C. Den Beste at 8:40 PM on September 23, 2006

Best answer: Actually, it looks as if it's a sandpiper (or one of the other birds on this page).
posted by Steven C. Den Beste at 8:48 PM on September 23, 2006

I'd guess a Sandpiper (Lesser Yellowleg).
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 8:51 PM on September 23, 2006

Damn! Beaten to the punch!
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 8:51 PM on September 23, 2006

Nyaa nyaa! (Pblt!)
posted by Steven C. Den Beste at 8:54 PM on September 23, 2006

Response by poster: Based on the picture Steven posted, I'm going to go with Solitary Sandpiper. It's the spitting image of the bird I saw.

Furthermore, All About Birds says that they are commonly seen near the banks of ponds and streams during migration, which also fits.

Thanks a bunch - this was driving me to distraction!
posted by dweingart at 8:59 PM on September 23, 2006

Now that it's answered, I hope this thread doesn't take a tern for the worse.
posted by mendel at 10:04 PM on September 23, 2006

...I hope this thread doesn't take a tern for the worse.
Would you be the least bittern if it did?
posted by Thorzdad at 10:11 AM on September 24, 2006

I'm heron what you're sayin'.
posted by TedW at 11:33 AM on September 24, 2006