SANDPIPERS 



(243a) Pelidna alpina sakha= 

 lina 



{VidU.) (Gr., gray; Lat., alpine). 



RED - BACKED SANDPIPER ; 

 AMERICAN DUNLIN. Bill long, 

 stout, slightly decurved and some- 

 what expanded at the tip. Ads. in 

 Slimmer — Plumage as shown by 

 the nearest bird. In winter, the top 

 and sides of the head are darker, 

 the rufous on the back is replaced 

 by gray, and the black patch dis- 

 appears from beneath. L., 8.50; 

 W., 4.7s; Tar., 1. 10; B., 1.60. Eggs 

 — Pale-greenish or brownish-gray, 

 blotched with blackish, 1.40x1.00. 



Range — Breeds on the Arctic 

 coast. Winters from N. J. to the 

 Gulf coast and from Wash, to Lower 

 Cal. Rare in the interior during 

 migrations. 



They are very gentle and confiding, allowing a close 

 approach or feeding near any one seated on the beach. If 

 alarmed, the liock moves away in a compact body, uttering 

 their soft, sweet whistles, which notes they also give occasion- 

 ally while feeding. It is an exceedingly interesting sight to 

 watch sandpipers at their meals; they run so swiftly, are 

 never still, and every movement is one of grace. The 

 abundance of these little "Peeps" is probably due to the 

 fact that they are not large enough to be hunted, although 

 often misguided gunners may shoot into a large flock of 

 them just to "see how many they can get." As usual with 

 so many of our sandpipers, "Peeps " nest only in the northern 

 half of Canada. 



RED-BACKED SANDPIPERS, or American Dunhns, 

 also make their homes in Arctic regions, but individuals 

 may sometimes be seen along our shores during the latter 

 part of July, while in August they become quite numerous. 

 They keep chiefly along our sea-coasts, in the interior being 

 only rarely found on the south shores of Lake Michigan. 



154 



