198 
CHARADR1 1 FORMES 
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 
semicircles. All white below; faintly and obscurely striped across breast and up throat. 
Distinclions. Spring birds can be confused only with the similarly red-breasted 
Dowitcher, but are easily distinguished by shorter bill (Figure 283, compare with 294). 
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. 
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 
semicircles 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 263). 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-eoverts. 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 prairie interior and the coasts, 
but more common on the latter. A bird of extraordinary range, wintering in South Africa, 
Patagonia, and New Zealand. 
235. Eastern Purple Sandpiper, winter snipe, rock snipe, la maubJjche des 
roches de l’est. Arquatella maritima. L, 9. A rather small sandpiper. Adult in 
spring: above, dark brown variegated on edges and 
tips of feathers with pale buff or white, sometimes a 
little rusty ochre; below, white with broad breast and 
upper abdominal band of ashy grey with indefinite or 
blended brown spots extending along flanks and in 
fine streaks up throat. Rump dark, inner secondaries 
largely white. Legs dull orange to olive ochre. In 
autumn and winter: above, black with purple irides- 
cence, feather edged with greyish; below, white with 
broad breast-band of ashy grey. 
Distinctions. A strictly maritime east coast 
species. The darkest of the eastern grey sandpipers. 
General irregular blotchiness of the breast in spring 
and the even greyness in the autumn and winter. 
Similar to the winter plumage of the Red-backed 
Sandpiper, but darker, and a distinct purplish sheen 
to the black feather centres of the back. 
Field Marks. General dark colour and short, yellowish legs. In flight with consider- 
able amount of white on inner secondaries. It comes on the southeastern Canada coast 
very, late in autumn and in winter on rocky, surf-beaten shores where no other species of 
shore bird is to be expected. 
Nesting. On the ground amongst the rocks. 
Distribution. Atlantic regions of northern hemisphere. Nests on the Arctic Islands, 
winters on our eastern sea coast. Very few records away from the sea. 
Figure 284 
Atlantic Purple Sandpiper; 
scale, 4- 
