42 



KEY TO SHOREBIRDS 



1 Wing length >200 mm. 2 

 1 ' Wing length <200 mm. 13 



2 Upper wing with a distinct, single, longitudinal white stripe that 

 extends well into the outer half of the wing (Fig. 20a). 3 



2' Upper wing without a white stripe extending into the outer half of 



the wina (Fia. 20b). 5 



3 Shaft of outermost primary dark brown; dorsal body feathers blackish- 

 brown; bill flattened laterally. AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHER 



3' Shaft of outermost primary partially white; dorsal body feathering 



mottled or uniformly gray. 4 



4 Front half of underwing mostly black; most secondaries mottled 

 above; tail brownish gray mottled with darker gray; bill 50-65 mm 



long and not swollen dorsal ly near tip (Plate 22-1). WILLET 



4' Underwing mostly white and medium gray with some black feathers 

 where it meets the body; tail white, irregularly barred with 

 blackish-brown; bill 25-35 mm long and swollen dorsally near tip 

 (Plate 20-7). BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER 



5 Upper wing without barring, spots or mottling and completely or 



nearly completely black or black-brown. 6 



5' Upper wing not as in 5. 7 



6 Upper wing nearly or completely black with green iridescent sheen; 

 tail gray; bill slender, straight to very slightly upturned and not 

 compressed laterally; belly white. BLACK-NECKED STILT 



6' Upper wing nearly or completely blackish-brown without irridescence; 

 tail dark brown; bill stout and compressed laterally (Fig. 7); belly 

 brown-black. BLACK OYSTERCATCHER 



