135 
233. Stilt Sandpiper. Micropalama himantopus. L, 8-25. A small Sandpiper. 
Spring adult with brown markings on a ground of dull white and cream; underparts with 
regular and narrow bars that change to fine obscure striping on foreneck and minute 
spotting on throat. A vague rufous band across nape and continuing over eye, and another 
of same colour under eye and over ear (Figure 160). Rump, white, spotted with brown. 
Young autumn birds are entirely different, and so closely resemble several other species 
as to be difficult of separation by colour. Back, much like that of spring bird, brown with 
feather edges of ochre, cream, white, and rusty; incoming ashy-grey winter plumage is 
likely to be intermixed and to predominate late in the season. Below, white, slightly 
tinged with tawny, which is most pronounced across breast with more or less striping. 
Head and neck a fine intermixture of ashy-brown and dull white with little detail. The 
crown and a vague line through eye are dark and the superciliary line and throat light. 
Bill of Stilt Sandpiper, enlarged tip, from above; 
natural size. 
Distinction s. The spring bird with its heavily brown-barred underparts is very 
distinctive. The autumn bird is much like the Pectoral, White-rumped, Baird’s, or Red- 
backed Sandpipers, but from any of these it may be recognized by its long, yellow legs 
reaching nearly an inch or more beyond the tail, and the slight spatulate enlargement at 
the tip of the long bill, almost imperceptible, but very apparent to the touch (Figure 160). 
The rump may be almost pure white and bear a close resemblance to the White-rumped. 
Field Marks. The regular and pronounced dark barring below is quite conspicuous 
in spring. When this detail cannot be seen, or in the autumn, the great length of leg 
furnishes the best field mark from all comparable Waders, except the Lesser Yellowlegs 
which it may resemble in apparent size, length, and colour of legs, and white rump. It has a 
longer bill than any other Sandpiper of similar size and in feeding may plunge its whole 
head and neck under water. It does not tip or nod. 
Nesting. On the ground. 
Distribution. Breeds in the western Arctic, migrates mostly through the prairie 
interior. There are a few records for southern British Columbia. 
234. Knot, red-breasted plover, robin snipe. Calidris canutus. L, 10*50. A 
medium-Bized Sandpiper. Spring adult, brick red throat and breast; abdomen and under- 
tail coverts, white. Above, finely mottled 
with black, greys, and light ochre running 
into stripes on crown. Uppertail coverts, 
not including lower back, white, barred 
with black. Autumn birds entirely 
different; pale ashy grey above from 
crown to rump with very little pattern; 
feathers of back slightly edged with white, 
usually backed by fine black line, giving 
an impression of a series of pale semi- 
circles. All white below; faintly and 
obscurely striped across breast and up 
throat. 
Distinctions. Spring birds can be 
confused only with the similarly red- . 
breasted Dowitcher, but are easily distinguished by shorter bill (Figure 161, compare with 
159). In autumn, by short bill; lighter, more even grey above, with the faint semicircles 
on back and grey rump. The breast band is faint, being formed of fine stripes instead of an 
over-all clouding. 
Figure 161 
Bill of Knot; natural size. 
