136 
On the west coast in autumn it may be confused with the Wandering Tattler and the 
Surf Bird, both of which have the same general coloration, including suggestions of light 
semi-circles on the back. The bill, between 1 and inches long, is shorter than that of 
the Tattler and longer than that of the Surf Bird (Figure 181). The grey of the back is 
more ashy than either, especially of the Tattler which is inclined towards bluish-grey. The 
breast is intermediate between the two — faintly striped instead of heavily marked as 
in the Surf Bird, or evenly bluish-grey as in the Tattler. The best distinctions, however, 
are the uppertail coverts. In the Knot these are white, irregularly barred, and marked 
with dark; in the Surf Bird they are pure white, and in the Tattler grey, the same 
colour as the back. 
Field Marks. In spring, red breast, and bill not much longer than head. In autumn, 
even light grey coloration above, without definite white spots or lines, and a short bill. 
Rump light in general effect but not white, as in the Surf Bird, and not extending up the 
back as in the Dowitcher. 
Nesting. On the ground. 
Distribution. Northern and southern hemispheres. In America, across the continent, 
breeding on the Arctic islands, migrating throughout the interior and the coasts, but more 
common on the latter. A bird of extraordinary range, wintering in South Africa, Patagonia, 
and New Zealand. 
235. Purple Sandpiper (Including Aleutian Sandpiper), winter snipe, rock 
snipe. Arquatella maritima. L, 9. A rather small Sandpiper. Adult in spring: above, 
dark brown, variegated on edges and tips of feathers with pale buff, white, and more or 
less rusty-ochre; below, white, with breast greyish-brown tinged with rufous, with scattered 
white feather tips, or irregularly blotched with blended brown and rusty ochre extending 
along the flanks in broad spots and up the throat in fine streaks. Rump dark; inner 
secondaries largely white. Legs dull orange to olive ochre. 
In autumn and winter: back, to crown, slate-grey, back feather centres almost black 
with slight purplish reflections. A paler grey band suffused across breast and up neck, 
leaving throat lighter and breaking into coarse spots on lower breast and along flanks. 
Some individuals carry this winter plumage well into the following summer. 
Distinctions. Adult in spring more or less reddish above and, in west coast birds, with 
a blotchy, dark breast band. Somewhat similar to the Red-backed Sandpiper, but separated 
from it by larger size though shorter bill (under instead of over 1 -25). The red on the back 
is not so extensive and is confined to feather borders and never barred across them. The 
dark area below extends from the lower breast towards the throat instead of over the 
abdomen, and the breast is £ therefore, mostly dark instead of nearly white. 
In autumn or winter it may be distinguished from other similarly coloured grey and 
white Waders such as the Knot, Red-backed Sandpiper, Wandering Tattler, and Surf 
Bird by size — larger than the Red-backed, smaller than any of the others. From all except 
the Surf Bird it may be distinguished by its darker coloration, sharp coarse spotting 
on lower breast and flanks, and the dark, almost black, centre to the feathers of the back. 
Besides having a darker back and being smaller it is infallibly separated from the Surf 
Bird by having a dark instead of a white rump. 
Field Marks. In spring, general suffused dark colour and short, yellowish legs. In 
autumn, it comes very late and winters on the rocky coast where it is likely to be con- 
fused only with the Wandering Tattler and the Surf Bird. It is smaller and darker coloured, 
especially across the breast, than the former and, unlike the latter, has a black instead of 
a white rump. 
Nesting. On the ground amongst the rocks. 
Distribution. Northern part of northern hemisphere. Breeds in the Arctic, Aleutian, 
and Pribilof islands and migrates down the coasts. Winters along our coast. Reported 
from the interior, only on the big lakes of Mackenzie. 
SUBSPECIES. Two subspecies are recognized as occurring in Canada: Arquatella 
maritima maritima, the type form occurring in both New and Old Worlds. This is the 
form of eastern Canada and the one to which the few Mackenzie records are ascribed. 
Arquatella maritima couesi, the Aleutian Sandpiper, breeds on the Aleutian and some other 
islands of Bering sea and migrates down our west coast. It is difficult to separate from 
eastern maritima in autumn; but in the spring has considerably more red on back and more 
dark on breast. 
The Purple Sandpiper and its races are birds of the rocky islet shores. 
It is a late autumn arrival and spends the winter on the sea-girt rocks of 
the outer Pacific coast in company with Black Turnstones and Surf Birds. 
