100 



Distribution. Breeds on Arctic coast across the continent. More common in migra- 

 tions in the prairie provinces than on the coasts. Not uncommon in the Great Lakes 

 region, Bcarcer farther east. 



Sandy margins and mud flats seem equally attractive to this species. 

 It is often found in company with Least and Semipalmated Sandpipers, 

 though more independent of water than many of its family. 



242. Least Sandpiper, mud peep, green-legged peep. fk. — la matjbeche de 

 wilson. Pisobia minutilla. L, 6. Upper parts and crown, dark brown edged more or less 

 broadly with various shades of ochraceous-buff and ruddy tints; white below. Across 

 breast and foreneck a dark suffusion sometimes tinged with buff with more or less pro- 

 nounced dark striping and spotting. 



Distinctions. Distinguished by its extremely small size from all other species except 

 the Semipalmated Sandpiper, and from that by the absence of webs between the toes. 



Field Marks. Differentiated from the Semipalmated Sandpiper by the dark greenish 

 instead of black colour of the legs. 



Distribution. Breeds in high latitudes across the continent as far south, in the east, 

 as the Magdalen islands in the gulf of St. Lawrence. Common throughout eastern Canada 

 in migration. 



One of the most numerous of Shore Birds. Probably its diminutive 

 size has protected it from the sportsman, though from its dense flocks 

 numbers can be obtained at a single shot. It frequents sandy beaches and 

 open mud flats and is a tame and confiding bird. It associates largely with 

 flocks of other species, though when disturbed separates from them to 

 rejoin the company later. It arrives and leaves earlier in the autumn than 

 the Semipalmated. 



Genus — Pelidna. Dunlins. 



243. Dunlin, red-backed sandpiper, black-heart plover, red-back. Ameri- 

 can dunlin, tr. — la MAUBECHE a dos roux. Pelidna alpina. L, 8. Spring bird is 

 too strongly marked to be mistaken for anything else. Back is dark brown so broadly 

 edged with red-ochre as to be mostly red. A large more or less diffused, almost black 

 spot occupies the abdominal surface. Bill slightly decurved (Figure 22, p. 21). Autumn 

 bird is without these striking characteristics. Upper surface is almost uniform, light 

 brownish grey suffusing across breast and lower neck. Below, and throat, white. 



Distinctions. Colour in autumn similar to autumn Knot, but smaller size and lack 

 of light semicircles of feather edges will always differentiate it even if occasional traces of 

 spring plumage are not present. It may also suggest the Curlew Sandpiper, but the 

 uppertail-coverts are dark instead of greyish. 



Field Marks. In spring— red back, and black spot below are evident. In autumn — 

 even grey back and, when flying, a line of white on the wing. Slight but distinct down- 

 ward bend of bill also helps identification. 



Distribution. Including the European form, the species is circumpolar. The Ameri- 

 can Dunlin, the Red-backed Sandpiper, nests on the Arctic coast locally across the conti- 

 nent. It is a common migrant throughout eastern Canada. 



SUBSPECIES. The New World representative of the Dunlin is a subspecific race, 

 the Red-backed Sandpiper or American Dunlin P. a. sakhalina, which is distinguished 

 from the Old World form only by its slightly larger size. 



This bird frequents sandbars, mud flats, or salt meadows. It is among 

 the latest of the Shore Birds to arrive both spring and autumn. 



Genus — Erolia. Sandpipers. 



244. Curlew Sandpiper, pr. — la matjbeche courlis. Erolia ferruginea. L, 8. 

 Small red-breasted Sandpiper. Autumn birds greyish brown above and white below. 



Distinctions. Resembles the Knot or Dowitcher in having red breast, but much 

 smaller and of more slender build. 



