juvenile; scaly back; dark cheeks; light below(California, USA; 2011-07-31)


Semipalmated Sandpiper
Calidris pusilla

Native Range: North America

Notes: closely related and similar in appearance to Western Sandpiper; being told from the latter only with difficulty by small details of plumage and bill shape; gets its name from some small amount of webbing at the base of the toes.


short and straight bill (California, USA; 2011-07-31)

dingy on upper breast (California, USA; 2011-07-31)

extremely similar to Western Sandpiper (California, USA; 2011-07-31)