LEAST SANDPIPER 269 



Specimens showing the red backs and black belly are not 

 often seen, but the fall birds may be distinguished by the 

 plain ashy tone of the upper parts, and especially by the 

 bill, which has a slight hut distinct downward curve. 



Least Sandpipek. Actodromas minutilla 



6.00. Bill .75 



Ad. — Feathers of the head and back black, edged with gray 

 or chestnut ; sides of head, neck, and breast streaked with 

 brown ; belly white ; legs greenish-yellow. Im. — Upper parts 

 much as in adult ; breast dusky, very indistinctly streaked with 

 darker ; rest of under parts white. 



The Least Sandpiper is a common migrant along the 

 coast in May, and again in July, August, and early 

 September. Like the other common sandpipers, it occa- 

 sionally occurs on inland ponds and rivers, and it is toler- 

 ably common in the Hudson Valley in May. This species 

 and the Semipalmated Sandpiper are the first to return 

 from the north, reaching Massachusetts early in July. By 

 the end of August it has nearly completed its migration, 

 though the Semipalmated Sandpiper is found throughout 

 September. For an account of the habits of the two, see 

 p. 267. 



White-eumped Sandpiper. Actodromas fusoicoUis 



7.50 



Ad. — Upper parts brownish-gray, the feathers spotted with 

 black in spring ; base of tail pure ivhite ; under parts white ; 

 sides of head, neck, and breast streaked, especially in spring, 

 with dusky. Im. — Similar, bnt feathers of back tipped with 

 white, and edged with reddish-brown ; breast grayish. 



The White-rumped Sandpiper is a not uncommon migrant 

 along the coast in May, and from the middle of July to the 

 middle of October. It frequents the sandy beaches, marshy 

 pools, and the mud-flats, consorting with the other " Peep," 



