Baird's Sandpiper

Status Rare transient. Although Gilpin (1882a) mentions it, the first concrete record is of a bird collected by Harold F. Tufts at Grand Pre, Kings County, on 7 September 1899. Only five more were recorded prior to 1966, but since then fall migrants have been seen in small numbers every year. Most have occurred from late August through mid September, with extreme dates of 12 July and 24 October. Two at Summerville Beach, Shelburne County, on 16 May 1983, well studied by Roland Chaisson, were highly unusual, as the species is almost unknown outside the central interior of North America during spring migration.

Description Length: 18-19 cm. Adults in summer: Upperparts dark brownish gray, feathers inconspicuously margined with pale buff or brownish gray; central tail feathers dark gray, outer ones brownish gray; throat white; breast buff, lightly streaked with dark brown; belly white; legs black. Adults in winter: Plumage paler.

Range Breeds in the Arctic from eastern Siberia and Alaska to northwestern Greenland. Winters in South America, migrating mostly through the interior of North America, being uncommon on both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts.

Remarks This small sandpiper resembles the Least, Semipalmated and White-rumped Sandpipers. Its larger size and black legs, however, distinguish it from the Least; the absence of a white rump distinguishes it from the White-rumped; and its buff breast contrasts with the grayer breast of the Semipalmated.

The Pectoral Sandpiper, though similarly marked, is larger and has greenish gray, not black legs. Another good mark of Baird's Sandpiper is the length of its folded wings which extend beyond its tail.