PURPLE SANDPIPER 



I 2 1 



and localities than in others. Xon- breeding immature birds are 

 observed from time to time in different parts of the country during 

 summer ; and there is reason to believe that fully adult pairs may 

 occasionally remain to breed in the Hebrides and Shetlands, as well 

 as on the Fame Islands (where young birds scarceh' able to fly have 

 been taken), and the adjacent coast of Northumberland, and other 

 northern districts. In Ireland the species is to be met with in limited 

 numbers during autumn and winter, and occasionalh' so late as Ma}\ 

 Greenland, the Faroe 

 Islands, and Spitzber- 

 gen are well-known 

 nesting localities. 



As seen in its 

 winter - plumage in 

 the British Isles, the 

 purple sandpiper 

 may be recognised 

 at a glance by its 

 general bluish -lead 

 colour ; while at all 

 seasons it is charac- 

 terised by the white 

 seventh and ninth 

 secondary quills, the 

 black ot the lower purple sandpiper (summer). 



part of the back and 



tail-coverts, the pale yellow legs, and the extension of the feathering of 

 the leg to the joint between the shank and the second segment. In 

 summer the colouring of the upper-parts is very like that of the dunlin 

 (page 123), the dark greyish brown feathers having chestnut borders, 

 and more or less distinct white tips, while there is also a bar across 

 the wing formed by the white tips of the greater coverts on the white 

 bases of the secondaries ; the under-parts, except on the breast and 

 flanks, which are greyish brown tinged with chestnut, are white. In 

 the winter-dress the chestnut disappears, and the feathers of the upper- 

 parts acquire a purple gloss, and board grey edges, while those below 

 develop dark middles ; only the abdomen and axillaries remaining 

 white. Young birds in their first plumage resemble the adults in 

 summer- dress, in that they have the feathers of the upper- parts 

 margined with buff and white, except on the crown and lower part of 

 the back, which have the buff only. The downy young are rufous 



THE ROWLAND WARD STUDIOS 



