99 



Distribution. The Eastern Purple Sandpiper probably breeds on the islands of the 

 Arctic. In migration, more common on the sea-coast than on the Great Lakes where it is 

 very rare. 



SUBSPECIES. The Purple Sandpiper occurs in both the New and the Old Worlds. 

 The subspecies occurring on the eastern coast of Canada is the Eastern Purple Sandpiper, 

 the type race. 



A very late autumn migrant coming long after all other Shore Birds 

 have deserted us. November and December are the months of its appear- 

 ance. Its apparent rarity may be largely due to its coming after the shores 

 are deserted by the gunner. It prefers rocky shores to sand or mud. 



Genus Pisobia. Sandpipers. 



239. Pectoral Sandpiper. GRASS SNIPE. PR. LA MATJBECHE 1 POITRINE CENDREE. 

 Pisobia maculata. L, 9. Upperparts dark brown, each feather edged with shade of 

 light ochre; underparts and throat white; lower neck and breast suffused with light brown- 

 ish buff and closely streaked with dark brown. 



Distinctions. Size and rather sharply streaked brownish buff front are distinctive. 

 The White-rumped Sandpiper and Baird's Sandpiper may be somewhat similar in this 

 respect, but rump of the former, and smaller size of both are evident. 



Field Marks. Its usual grassy marsh habitat makes Wilson's Snipe the bird most 

 likely to be confused with it, but the shortness of bill of the Pectoral Sandpiper is obvious. 

 It appears as an even brown bird without light on rump or elsewhere above, much like a 

 large Least Sandpiper. 



Distribution. Breeds on the Arctic coast northwest of Hudson bay. Common 

 migrant throughout eastern Canada. 



The Pectoral Sandpiper, like Wilson's Snipe, is to be found in wet, 

 grassy meadows, or on mud flats, rarely if ever on sandy beaches. In the 

 grass it lies well to a dog and sometimes furnishes good sport. On the 

 breeding grounds it develops a neck-sac that can be inflated to an extra- 

 ordinary extent and indulges in a flight-song that is unusual among the 

 generally songless Shore Birds. 



240. White-rumped Sandpiper. BONAPARTE'S SANDPIPER. FR. LA MAU- 

 BECHE A CROUPION BLANC. Pisobiafusdcollis. L, 7-50. Back and upperparts dark brown 

 broadly margined with greyish and ochraceous brown, the former predominating. Rump 

 and all lower parts white, foreneck and upper breast sharply and finely striped with dark 

 brown. In autumn, similar, but more ruddy-ochraceous on back, and front stripings 

 more blended. 



Distinctions. Size and white rump distinguish it from comparable species. The 

 Hudsonian Godwit and Stilt Sandpiper have white uppertail-coverts, but the former is 

 much too large a bird to be a source of error and the latter's longer, slender, bill or barred 

 breast are distinctive. 



Field Marks. General size and colour, and conspicuous large white rump. 



Distribution. Breeds on Arctic coast west to near Alaskan border. In migration 

 common on Atlantic coast, rather scarce in Great Lakes region. 



This species frequents mud flats and rocky shores rather than sandy 

 beaches. It often accompanies the flocks of Least and Semipalmated 

 Sandpipers. 



241. Baird's Sandpiper. FR. LA MAUBECHE DE BAIRD. Pisobia bairdi. L, 

 7-40. Back to top of head dark brown edged with light ochraceous; below and throat, 

 white; band of light buff across chest; lower foreneck dimly striped with fine, brown lines. 



Distinctions. Resembles White-rump, but with rump dark and a more buffy suffusion 

 across front. Also considerably like Least Sandpiper, but larger. 



Field Marks. Resembles large Least Sandpiper, with buffy breast suffusion. 



