510 THE LEAST SANDPIPER. 



Nesting. — Does not breed in Ohio. Nest, on the ground, lined with a few 

 dry leaves and grasses. Eggs, 4, buff, or light cream-buff, finely speckled or 

 spotted and blotched with chestnut of various shades. Av. size, 1.30 x .93 

 (33. X 23.6). 



General Range. — Nearly the whole of North and South America, but chiefly 

 the interior of North and the western portions of South America, .south to Chili 

 and Patagonia. Breeds in Alaska and on the Barren Grounds. Rare along the At- 

 lantic Coast, and not yet recorded from the Pacific Coast of the United States. 



Range in Ohio. — Rare spring and fall migrant. 



MUCH confusion formerly existed with reference to the status of this 

 species, and even now it seems certain that many of them pass through our 

 borders unrecognized, because of their habit of associating during migrations 

 with other and smaller Sandpipers. 



The Baird Sandpiper is abundant in the interior states, and especially 

 in the Rocky Mountains at certain seasons ; but it breeds exclusively in the 

 remote north. 



"In habits they are similar to the White-rumped (which they so closely 

 resemble), but are more inclined to wander from the water's edge. I have 

 flushed the birds on high prairie lands, at least a mile from the water" (Goss). 



No. 235. 



LEAST SANDPIPER. 



A. O. U. No. 242. Actodromas minutilla (Vieill.). 



Synonyms. — Ami-irican Stint; Peep. 



.Description. — Adult in summer: Upper parts brownish black, relieved by 

 fuscous on wings, hind-neck, etc. ; the feathers more or less bordered with grayish 

 and rusty-ochraceous, especially on scapulars, where deeply indented, often nearly 

 to shaft ; upper tail-coverts and central feathers of tail brownish black ; remaining 

 tail-feathers ashy gray ; sides of head, neck, and breast ashy or brownish white,^ 

 spotted and streaked with dusky ; a few dusky streaks on sides ; remaining under 

 parts white. Winter plumage : Above plain brownish gray, black, if at all, only 

 in mesial streaks ; spotting of breast nearly obsolete. Immature : Similar to adult 

 in summer, but without ochraceous indentations on scapular feathers ; feathers of 

 back with rounded ochraceous tips, scapulars with white tips on outer web, etc. ; 

 breast not distinctly streaked. Length 6.00 (152.4) ; wing 3.60 (91.4) ; tail 1.70 

 (43.2) ; bill .80 (20.3) ; tarsus .73 (18.5). 



Recognition Marks. — Warbler to Sparrow size ; least among Sandpipers ; 

 most liable to be confused with Breiinetcs pusillus, from which it differs in its 

 slightly smaller size, slender bill, more extensively washed breast, and rather darker 

 coloration above. The absence of webs on the feet is, of course, distinctive. 



Nesting. — Does not breed in Ohio. Nest, on the ground. Eggs, 3 or 4, light 



