SANDPIPERS 
203 
and open mud-flats and is a tame and confiding bird. It associates largely 
with flocks of other species, though when disturbed separates from them 
to rejoin the company later. 
244. Curlew Sandpiper, le becasseau cocorli. Erolia testacea. L, 8. Small 
red-breasted sandpiper. Autumn birds greyish brown above and white below. 
Distinctions. Resembles the Knot or Dowitcher in 
having red breast, but much smaller and of more 
slender build. 
Distribution. Breeds in Arctic Siberia. Of only 
casual occurrence in eastern Canada. More records 
from the Atlantic coast than inland, though there is 
one from Lake Ontario. It has never been reported 
from the Canadian west coast. 
An Old World form occasionally seen in 
the New World. Said to resemble the Red- 
back in habit, but too scarce in eastern 
Canada to be looked for as a regular visitor. 
Any record of this species should be founded on definite specimens and 
subjected to rigid scrutiny. 
Figure 291 
Curlew Sandpiper; 
scale, $, 
243. Dunlin, black-heart plover, le becasseau cincle. Pelidna alpina. 
L, 8. A small sandpiper. Spring adult, back extending to crown predominantly red; 
very finely striped across breast, up neck, and on face, with ashy brown on white. Throat 
white. Large black area occupying abdomen. Bill slightly down-curved (Figure 292). 
In autumn plumage soft, uniform, light ashy grey all above and suffusing across 
breast; remainder white. Autumn adults usually have a few of the red summer feathers 
on the back. There is a juvenile plumage with black and buffy back and a spotted breast 
of which only traces remain when the birds come to us in the autumn. 
Figure 292 
Red-backed Sandpiper; 
scale, L 
Autumn Spring 
Distinctions. In spring, the predominantly red back, and the black abdominal patch 
are absolutely distinctive. No other species has so much red on back. The Western Purple 1 
Sandpiper has a blended dark area on the breast instead of the abdomen that does not 
cut sharply against the white above as it does on this species. The grey autumn plumage 
resembles that of several other species of similar size, but of them only the White-rumped 
and Sanderling ever show the clear, patternless (except for a few black and red-margined 
intrusive feathers), grey back. The former has a white rump, the grey of the latter is 
almost white, and the hind toe is absent. The other evenly grey-backed autumn sand- 
pipers — Knot, Wandering Tattler, and Surf-bird — are all so much larger that no mistake 
can be made. The moderately long (over 1J inches), slightly decurved bill is generally 
characteristic. 
