Bird of the Week – Stilt Sandpiper
Crikey, is there ever an end to these shore birds? Not yet. This week we have a mediocre photo of a fairly uncommon species in interior Alaska, the Stilt Sandpiper.
Stilt Sandpiper, Peat Ponds, Fairbanks
The heavy barring and the reddish patch behind and below the eye distinguish this species from it cousins. The species breeds exclusively on the Arctic coast, east of Pt. Barrow. It winters on the Gulf of Mexico and down through Mexico and Central America.
The origin of its name is a bit obscure; its legs aren’t appreciably longer than other sandpipers. Unless you are on the Beaufort Sea, you aren’t likely to see this species often.
Camera geek stuff: f9, 1/640, ISO400.
For more bird photos, please visit Frozen Feather Images.