Least or Baird's Sandpiper?

[Bryan Hix]

I posted this on my local Audubon sightings page for my area as a Least Sandpiper and I had some comments back from a few folks that thought it looked more like a Baird's. It very well could be a Baird's and possibly the rear leg looks yellowish from the clay soil, thereby masking an otherwise dark leg. I am no shorebird expert, so some input from the community would be very appreciated. Thanks!

-Bryan

[Aidan Briggs]

Looks like a Baird's to me. Would love to see one of these around here.

[AlvanBuckley]

The wing tips extend beyond the tail of the bird (ie primary projection). This is typical of a Bairds or White-rumped Sandpiper. It can be ID'd as a Bairds because of the 'buff brown' colour on its breast. Hope that helps :)

[Chris Sloan]

This is an adult Baird's Sandpiper. The legs have mud on them; you can actually see the light reflecting off the mud on the left leg. Leg color in shorebirds is tricky because a lot of things can cause the legs to appear differently colored than what you would expect, so you should never rule something in or out completely based just on that.

[Chris Sloan]

One thing I forgot to add: Baird's has a relatively distinctive bill shape that you can see well here. The culmen is almost perfectly straight, but the bottom of the lower mandible has a little bit of a curve to it. No other shorebird (at least in N.A.) has that feature.

[Bryan Hix]

Thanks Chris for the explanation. I appreciate it.

[Arthur Morris]

Yes, a molting, fading adult Baird's. Almost all of these on the east coast in fall are young birds.

[Arthur Morris]

I should have mentioned the super-long wings :)