PECTORAL SANDPIPER 



A common migrant, the smallest of the sand- 

 pipers. It is similar in habits to Ereunetes 

 pusillus, but prefers marshes to the beaches of 

 the sea shore, though often found there also, in 

 association with the latter species. 



13. Pisobia maculata (Vieillot) 

 Pectoral Sandpiper 



Male. Length, 228 mm. (9.00 in.); tail, 60 

 mm. (2.40 in.). Streaked above with black, 

 brown and buff, the blackish brown feathers 

 being broadly bordered with buff, the lower, 

 back and upper tail coverts largely buff; tail 

 pointed, the shorter outer feathers brownish 

 gray edged with white; below white thickly 

 streaked with dusky on sides of head and neck 

 and on chest and breast. 



Female. Like male in plumage but a little 

 smaller. 



Immature specimens and adults in winter are 

 browner above and have the breast washed with 

 buff, with the dusky streaks less distinct. 



An uncommon migrant resembling the Semi- 

 palmated and Least Sandpipers in plumage, but 

 much larger. Unlike them it is almost exclu- 

 sively a bird of grassy marshes. Though some- 

 times seen in flocks, when flushed they usually 

 fly off singly or in pairs, with a squeaky grating 

 call. Recorded by Jewel from Mindi. 

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