JAN., 1909. BIRDS OF ILLINOIS AND WISCONSIN CORY. 



407 



Genus PELIDNA Cuvier. 



118. Pelidna alpina sakhalina (VIEILL.). 

 RED-BACKED SANDPIPER. 



Tringa alpina pacifica (Coues), A. O. U. Check List, 1895, p. 89. 

 Distr.: North America and eastern Asia, breeding in the Arctic 

 regions; south to Mexico and Central America, in winter. 



Summer. 



Red-backed Sandpiper. 



Winter. 



Adult in summer: Bill, slightly bent down near the tip; the 

 feathers on the top of the head and back, bright rufous brown, heavily 

 blotched with black on the central part of each 

 feather; throat, whitish; breast streaked with 

 black; belly, black on the upper part; lower 

 belly and crissum, white; bill, black. 



Adult in winter: Upper parts, gray, slightly 

 mottled; throat, white; breast, gray, the shafts 

 of the feathers dark brown; belly and under 

 tail coverts, pure white; a faint, dull white 

 superciliary line. 



Length, 8; wing, 4.75; tarsus, i.io; bill, 1.65. 



The Red-backed Sandpiper is abundant in May and common in late 

 August and September, during the migrations in Illinois and Wis- 

 consin. 



