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SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER (Lirmodromus griseus) and LONG-BILLED 

 DOWITCHER (Lirmodromus soolopaceus; choice 19, pg. 45) are slightly 

 larger than a robin. Their straight bills are very long (Plate 22-6,7). 

 The legs are yellowish. They have a distinctive patch of white extending 

 from the middle of the back to the rump. The tail is barred black and 

 white. In breeding plumage they are rusty to salmon ventrally but in 

 winter plumage they are drab gray-brown dorsal ly and white and gray-brown 

 ventrally. The two species are very difficult to separate; only ex- 

 perienced observers should attempt to do so. See Pitelka (1950) for the 

 best criteria to separate the two species. In Alaska dowitchers may occur 

 between April and October, from British Columbia to northern California 

 between mid-March and November and from northern California south year 

 round. 



SURFBIRD (Aphriza virgata; choice 32, pg. 48) is slightly larger 

 than a robin. Its bill is short and stout, and its yellowish legs are 

 heavy-set. A triangle of black on its tail points toward its white rump. 

 Dorsal feathering is variegated chestnut and blackish in summer but sooty- 

 gray in winter. The breast is heavily marked with black chevrons in 

 summer but is sooty-gray in winter. Surf birds may occur on the coast 

 from Alaska to Baja California year round. 



RED KNOT (Calidris oanutus; choice 35, pg. 48), slightly larger than 

 a robin, has a straight bill about the same length as the head (Plate 24-1), 

 In breeding plumage, worn from about March to September, the bird is black, 

 gray and rusty dorsal ly; ventrally it is rusty except for white under the 

 tail. In winter plumage (about August to May) and Juvenal plumage dorsal 

 feathering is gray, and ventral feathering white. Knots can be found 

 along the Alaskan coast from about April to August, along the Washington 

 coast from about February to November and from California south year round. 



SANDERLING (Calidris alba; choice 33, pg. 48) is slightly smaller than 

 a robin, has a fairly short, straight bill, and black legs. In contrast 

 to other sandpipers, this species lacks a hind toe. Breeding plumage (May 

 to August) is accentuated with rust on the back, head, throat and breast. 

 Winter plumage is gray above and white below. Juveniles have black dorsal 

 feathers that are edged with gray. Sanderlings occur on the Alaskan coast 

 between May and September and south of there from July through May. 



SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER (Calidris pusilla; choice 44, pg. 50), WESTERN 

 SANDPIPER (Calidris mauri; choice 44', pg.50), RUFOUS-NECKED SANDPIPER 

 (Calidris rufieollis; choice 43', pg. 50), and LEAST SANDPIPER (Calidris 

 minutilla; choice 43, pg. 50) are sparrow-sized, brown- to grayish-backed, 

 white-bellied sandpipers that are difficult to separate. Their bill 

 shapes and lengths differ somewhat (see Plate 24) and are important in 

 identification. Rusty coloration is prominent on the top of the head 

 in the scapulars of breeding -pi umaged Western Sandpipers (April-August) 

 and on the throat and sides of the head of breeding-pi umaged Rufous-necked 



