SANDPIPERS 
207 
Field Marks. As a rule an upland bird, but often seen with other waders on the 
shores. A round-headed, short-billed (bill shorter than head), huffy little wader, 
with dull yellow legs. Because of its upland habitat unlikely to be mistaken for any- 
thing except the Pectoral Sandpiper, but the huffy below is 
uniform and continuous over the underparts and not contrasted 
with the white throat and^ abdomen. On the beaches the species 
it is most likely to be confused with is Baird’s Sandpiper; but it 
is more huffy, especially below, is without white throat, and 
has larger and rounder-appearing head. 
Distribution. North and South America. Breeding on the 
Arctic coast, west of Hudson Bay. Migrates in limited numbers 
through the Prairie and Eastern Provinces of Canada. Occasion- 
al records from the coast of British Columbia. 
This is one of the rarest of the generally distri- 
buted sandpipers. We have scattered records of it 
right across Canada from practically everywhere 
except the interior of British Columbia. There is 
some doubt as to whether it ever was very common 
in the west, but it has certainly become less numer- 
ous of late years and instead of occasional large flocks only singles or small 
companies are now reported. 
Figure 297 
Buff-breasted Sandpiper; 
scale, £. 
Figure 298 
Underwing surface of Buff-breasted Sandpiper; natural size. 
249. Marbled Godwit. la barge marbr^e. Limosafedoa. L, 18. Plate XXVI A. 
A very large, pink, buff, and brown wader with long, slightly up-turned bill. 
Distinctions. In general appearance much like the curlews, but with slightly up- 
turned instead of decidedly down-turned bill. In colour, too unlike the Avocet, which 
also has an up-turned bill, ever to be confused with it. The only species it is likely to be 
confused with is its close relative, the Hudsonian Godwit. In spring, its breast is pinkish 
buff instead of chestnut-red. The wing quills are finely speckled or marbled with dark 
on pinkish buff (Figure 299), instead of being solidly dark, almost black. The tail and its 
upper coverts are barred with the pinkish buff and dark, instead of the tail being prac- 
tically black and coverts white. 
Marbled primary of Marbled Godwit; scale, £. 
In autumn, the Marbled Godwit is of the same general coloration as in spring, but 
slightly pinker and without the fine breast vermiculation. The autumn Hudsonian God- 
wits are almost pure white below with uniform shades of ashy elsewhere, though traces 
of the spring plumage often persist in the adults. 
Field Marks. A large ochraceous and brown wader. Long, up-turned bill, yellow- 
orange at the base in spring, flesh-pink in autumn, separates it from the curlews; and 
general coloration and evenly coloured rump and tail of ochraceous barring from the 
black-tailed, white-rumped Hudsonian. Wings largely ochre instead of solid black. 
Distribution. North America. In Canada, it breeds on the prairies. Rare in the 
interior of British Columbia, more common on the coast in migration. 
76910-14J 
