[2.62.] BIRDS OF OREGON 



DISTRIBUTION. General: Breeds in Arctic north from Nova Scotia, Quebec, Kee- 

 watin, southern Mackenzie, southern Yukon, and southern Alaska and winters 

 from Grays Harbor, Washington, Gulf coast, and North Carolina, southward. In 

 Oregon: Spring and fall migrant, more abundant in fall than in spring migration 

 movement. Regular winter resident in small numbers on coast. 



THE LEAST SANDPIPER, the smallest of the Oregon shore birds, so closely 

 resembles the Western Sandpiper that the two are easily confused. For 

 that reason records of this species are not plentiful in Oregon literature. 

 Townsend listed it in 1839, the only record until Woodcock (1901) re- 

 ported it from Yaquina Bay and Corvallis. Anthony (Bailey 1902.) stated 

 that it was a common migrant near Portland. Willett (1919) found it in 

 both spring and fall at Malheur Lake. In the Biological Survey field 

 notes are records by Vernon Bailey, Preble, Becker, Streator, and Gold- 

 man from various localities in both eastern and western Oregon. Our 

 date of latest spring departure is May 15 (Harney County). W. E. Sher- 

 wood took the earliest fall specimens we have seen, July n, 192.4, at 

 Salem. The species is an abundant migrant on the coast during July, 

 August, and September, after which most of the birds depart, leaving 

 behind only a scant population that winters in the sand dunes, often in 

 small flocks mixed with Snowy Plover. We have taken wintering birds 

 on the coast on December n (Curry County, Jewett), December -LJ (Tilla- 

 mook County, Gabrielson), and November 2.4 (Lincoln County, both 

 observers and John Carter). Like other small sandpipers, these little 

 "peeps" are consummate masters of the art of synchronized motion, often 

 wheeling and dipping in the most intricate aerial evolutions. 



Red-backed Sandpiper: 



Pelidna alpina sakhalina (Vieillot) 



DESCRIPTION. "Tarsus longer than middle toe and claw; bill longer than tarsus, 

 slightly curved; middle of wing with a large white patch. Adults in summer: 

 crown, back, and upper tail coverts bright rusty ochraceous, more or less spotted or 

 streaked with black; middle of belly black; chest grayish white, thickly streaked 

 with dusky; sides and back part of belly white. Adults in winter: upper parts plain 

 ashy gray, obscurely streaked with dusky; chest light gray, more or less streaked 

 with dusky; rest of under parts, sides of rump, and upper tail coverts white. Young: 

 like adults in winter but upper parts spotted and streaked with black and ochraceous, 

 and breast coarsely spotted with black. Length: 7.60-8.75, wing 4.60-4.95, bill 

 1.40-1.75, tarsus 1.00-1.15." (Bailey) Nest: A loose mass of dry grass in a shallow 

 depression in the ground. Eggs: Usually 4, pale green to olive buff, spotted with 

 dark browns. 



DISTRIBUTION. General: Breeds in Arctic America south to eastern Keewatin, north- 

 western Mackenzie, and Hooper Bay, Alaska. Winters from Washington and New 

 Jersey south to Lower California, Florida, and Gulf coast. In Oregon: Common 

 migrant on coast and less common but regular winter resident. Less common in- 

 land, although it occurs more or less regularly in migration. Arrives in October 

 and remains until May. 



