95 



across front of neck and throat, and along flanks. Lighter on throat and darkest on back, 

 white below. Over darker parts a faint suffusion of slightly iridescent purple more or less 

 mottled with lighter feather edgings. Autumn plumage similar, but light feather margins 

 more extensive. Legs and feet orange in spring. 



Distinctions. The only Shore Bird with back so uniformly black. 



Field Marks. In spring, general dark colour and short orange legs. In autumn, 

 season of appearance is almost diagnostic as it comes very late, well into the winter, when 

 other Shore Birds have left. 



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 either sand or 

 mud. 



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

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

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

 brownish 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 blown up 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 MAUBECHE A. 

 CRUPION BLANC. Pisobia fuscicollis. L, 7-50. Back and upperparts dark brown broadly 

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

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

 In autumn, similar, but more ruddy-ochracepus 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 upper tail 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. 



