BREEDING WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER, PRESQU'ILE PROVINCIAL PARK, BRIGHTON, ON

   We can ID this "peep" as a White-rumped Sandpiper as follows:

• First we can narrow the species of this "peep" to either a White-rumped Sandpiper or a Baird's Sandpiper by the fact that its wing tips extend beyond its tail.  The wing tips of other small sandpipers do not extend past the tip of the tail.  The wing tips extending past the tail is particularly noticeable in the third and fourth photos.  
• The dark streaks on the breast extending well along the flanks towards the tail indicates this is a White-rumped Sandpiper.  In a Baird's Sandpiper the flanks are not streaked.
• The  base of the lower bill being orangish also indicates this sandpiper is a White-rumped Sandpiper.  Baird's Sandpipers do not have this two tone lower mandible.  This is noticeable in all the photos.
• The white rump of this sandpiper is generally seen only when it is preening or in flight.

   The White-rumped Sandpiper is a new species to our Life List, which now stands at 299.