955 
Family 2. ScoLopacipar. Sandpipers, 
To this family belong the majority of our Shore Birds. They are mud probers, hence they have 
long bills which are soft and sensitive at the end. Most of them are found in wet or damp places. Many 
of them migrate in flocks, the flock flying as one bird. 
I. Bill over 2 inches long. 
A. Bill over 5 inches long. 277. Long-=billed Curlew. 
B. Bill under 4.5. 
1. Bill curved downward. 278. Hudsonian Curlew. 
2. Bill straight or curved upward. 
a. Bill over 3.00. 268. Marbled Godwit. 
b. Bill under 3.00. 
(1). Bill widened and pitted at the tip. 
(a). Duller, bill averaging 2.30. H. 39. Dowitcher. 
(b). Brighter, bill averaging 2.80. 258. Long=-billed Dowitcher. 
(2). Bill not widened at the tip. 
(a). Wing over 7.50. 
(at). Axillars barred. 269. Greater Yellow-legs. 
(bt). Axillars not barred. 272. Western Willet. 
(b). Wing under 6.00. 257. Wilson’s Snipe. 
II. Bill under 2 inches long. 
A. Toes 3. 267. Sanderling. 
B. Toes 4. 
1. Tail feathers pointed. 260. Sharp-tailed Sandpiper. 
2. Tail feathers not pointed. 
a. Tail barred. 
(1). Wing under 4.50. 276. Spotted Sandpiper. 
(2). Wing over 5.00. 
(a). Wing over 6.00. 
(at). Tail feathers showing much white. 270. Lesser Yellow-legs. 
(bt). Tail feathers without white. 274. Bartramian Sandpiper. 
(b). Wing under 5.50. 
(at). Upperparts not spotted. 275. Buff-breasted Sandpiper. 
(bt). Upperparts spotted. 
(a2). Upperparts spotted with white. B.C. & H. 19. Solitary Sandpiper. 
(b2). Upperparts spotted with buffy. 271. Western Solitary Sandpiper. 
b. Tail not barred. 
(1). Bill over 1.10. 
(a). Wing over 6.50. 
(at). Rump white. 259. Knot. 
(bt). Rump not white. 273. Wandering Tattler. 
(b). Wing under 5.75. 
(at). Tarsus ever 1.50. B.C. & H.18. Stilt Sandpiper. 
(bt). Tarsus under 1.50 . 
(a2). Belly with a black patch. 264. Red-backed Sandpiper. 
(b2). Belly without. black. 261. Pectoral Sandpiper. 
(2). Bill under 1.00. 
(a). Wing over 4.50. : 262. Baird’s Sandpiper. 
(b). Wing under 4.00. 
(at). Toes not at all webbed. 263. Least Sandpiper. 
(bt). Toes partly webbed. 
(a2). Bill about 1 inch long. 266. Western Sandpiper. 
(b2). Bull distinctly less than r inch long 265. Semipalmated Sandpiper. 
Family 3. Recurvrrostripar. Stilts and Avocets. 
The long and extremely slender legs, and the long, slender, and distinctly upward curved bill suf- 
ficiently characterize this family. 
I. Head and neck rufous or whitish. 279. American Avocet. 
Il. Head and neck black or brown. H. 40. Black-necked Stilt. 
Family 4. ApuHRizipAE. Turnstones. 
The Turnstones are so called because of their habit of overturning small flat stones in search of 
insects and crustaceans which hide beneath. They are stout billed and stout bodied birds which frequent 
water margins. 
I. Tail emarginate. 280. Surf Bird. 
II. Tail slightly rounded. 281. Ruddy Turnstone. 
Il. Anterior half of the bird black or dark brown 282. Black Turnstone. 
