BAIBD SANDPIPEE 375 



it is of fairly regular occurrence. Bowles and Howell (1912, p. 8) 

 state that at Santa Barbara they found it a regular fall migrant. 

 During 1910 but seven individuals were seen, while in 1911 the 

 birds were considered "common." "Three or four could be found 

 at any time between August 11 and September 4, while at least twelve, 

 of which nine were in one flock, were on the flats September 2." 

 Again, in 1912, Dawson (1912, p. 224) found the species in the same 

 vicinity from August 8 to 22, when the individuals observed were 

 mingling freely with Western Sandpipers. In 1914 it was observed 

 on July 25 (Dawson, 1916, p. 25). The same author has seen the 

 species at Santa Barbara in the spring on four dates between April 

 27 and May 7 (Dawson, loc. cit.). Other localities of record are: 

 Point Pinos, near Monterey, August 25, 1897, one individual shot 

 from flock of Least Sandpipers (J. Mailliard, 1898, p. 51) ; "White's 

 Landing, Santa Catalina Island, one specimen, September 1, 1907 

 (Grinnell, 1909a., p. 139) ; Pacific Beach, near San Diego, one speci- 

 men, September 8, 1904 (Bishop, 1905, p. 141). Dates of observation 

 have thus covered at least six separate years, and show the species to 

 be of rather regular yet limited presence along the coast. 



Compared with the species most closely related to it, the Baird 

 Sandpiper seems to be slightly more numerous than the Pectoral 

 Sandpiper, but in nowise as abundant as the Least Sandpiper. From 

 the Pectoral Sandpiper the Baird may be distinguished by its decid- 

 edly smaller size, its blackish feet, by the creamy or grayish rather 

 than tawny cast of its upper surface, as well as by the much less 

 extensive and less sharply streaked breast band. Prom the Least and 

 "Western sandpipers the Baird Sandpiper may be distinguished by its 

 somewhat larger size, the distinctly buffy tone of its breast and back, 

 and the less distinct streaking on its breast. 



The Baird Sandpiper, taking its entire range into account, is 

 seldom found singly, but usually in pairs or small flocks of its own 

 kind numbering six to a dozen individuals. It frequently flocks with 

 other species, such as the Least Sandpiper, and at times even with 

 the Turnstone or the Killdeer. "When on the beach the birds feed 

 near the upper edge, in the vicinity of tide pools, but this is not their 

 accustomed habitat. They are found more commonly inland, even 

 up to very high altitudes in the mountains. Goss (1891, p. 176) says 

 that he has flushed them on high dry prairie land as much as a mile 

 from the nearest water. Brewster (1881, pp. 60, 61) saw this species 

 with the Ring-necked Plover on the beach in Maine. At that place 

 "their motions were slow and sedate and their attitudes crouching. 

 They kept up a low conversational twitter while feeding, and when 

 flushed, flew in that swift, erratic way characteristic of most of the 

 small "Waders. ' ' 



