A Synopsis of the Birds of North America

Male, 91/4, 18.

From Nova Scotia to Maryland, along the coast. Rather common. Migratory. Breeds in the north.

Tringa pectoralis, Pectoral Sandpiper, Bonap. Amer. Orn. v. iv. p. 44.

Tringa pectoralis, Bonap. Syn. p. 318.

Pectoral Sandpiper, Tringa pectoralis, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 111.

Pectoral Sandpiper, Tringa pectoralis, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 601; v. v. p. 582.

331. 4. Tringa maritima, Brunnich. Purple Sandpiper

Plate CCLXXXIV. Fig. 1. Adult in summer. Fig. 2. In winter.

Bill deep orange, dusky toward the end; feet light orange. Head greyish-brown, tinged with purple, its sides and those of the neck deep purple; back and wings brownish-black, with purple gloss, the margins of the feathers white; quills brownish-black, their shafts, the tips of all the secondaries, and the greater part of the middle ones, white; middle tail-feathers brownish-black, tinged with purple, the lateral shaded with ash-grey; upper part of throat greyish-white, fore neck grey; breast, sides, and abdomen white. In winter, the lower parts are pale grey, the upper parts have the purplish tints much fainter, the white edgings substituted by dull grey.

Male, 91/2, 143/4.

Abundant from Maine to New York, in autumn and spring. Breeds in Hudson's Bay, and on Melville Island.

Tringa maritima, Bonap. Syn. p. 318.

Tringa maritima, Purple Sandpiper, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 382.

Purple Sandpiper, Tringa maritima, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 558.

332. 5. Tringa rufescens, Vieill. Buff-breasted Sandpiper

Plate CCLXV. Male and Female.

Bill not longer than the head, dull olive-green, dusky toward the point; feet dull yellowish-green; upper parts greyish-yellow, each feather blackish-brown in the centre; wing-coverts lighter; quills and coverts light greyish-brown, greenish-black at the end, with the tip whitish, the inner webs whitish in the greater part of their breadth, and beautifully dotted with black, in undulating lines; the inner secondaries like the back; the two middle tail-feathers greyish-brown, at the end dark brown glossed with green, and slightly margined and tipped with white, the rest gradually paler to the outer, margined and tipped with white, within which are two lines of blackish-brown; sides of the head, fore neck, and sides light yellowish-red, the throat paler, the sides of the neck and body spotted with brownish-black, the rest of the lower parts paler and unspotted; lower wing-coverts white, those near the edge of the wing black in the centre, primary coverts dotted with black, and having a spot of the same near the end.

Male, 8, 18.

Along the Atlantic shores from Maine to New York. Rare. Migratory. Breeds in high northern latitudes.

Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Tringa rufescens, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 113.

Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Tringa rufescens, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 451.

333. 6. Tringa alpina, Linn. Red-backed Sandpiper

Plate CCXC. Adult in summer and winter.

Bill one-third longer than the head, slender, slightly curved toward the end, and with the feet black. Upper part of the head, back, and scapulars, chestnut-red, each feather brownish-black in the centre, and the scapulars barred with the same colour; wing-coverts greyish-brown, as are the quills; the bases and tips of the secondaries, and part of the outer webs of the middle primaries white; tail light brownish-grey, the two middle feathers darker; forehead, sides of head, and hind neck, pale reddish-grey, streaked with dusky; fore neck and anterior part of breast greyish-white, streaked with dusky; on the breast a large patch of brownish-black; abdomen and lower tail-coverts white, the latter with dusky markings. In winter, the general colour of the upper parts brownish-grey; the wings and tail as in summer; throat greyish-white; sides of head and neck, and fore part of the latter, pale brownish-grey, faintly streaked with darker, as are the sides; the rest of the lower parts white, with a few streaks on the breast.

Male, 81/2, 15.

From Nova Scotia to Texas, along all muddy or sandy shores, during autumn and spring. Common. Breeds in great numbers on the Arctic coasts.

Tringa Cinclus and alpina, Linn. Syst. Nat. v. i. p. 251, 429.

Red-backed Sandpiper, Tringa alpina, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. vii. p. 5.

Tringa alpina, Bonap. Syn. p. 317.

Tringa alpina, American Dunlin, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 383.

Dunlin or Ox-bird, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 106.

Red-backed Sandpiper, Tringa alpina, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 580.

334. 7. Tringa subarquata, Temm. Curlew Sandpiper

Plate CCLXIII. Adult and Young.

Bill one-third longer than the head, slightly decurved, dark olive; feet light olive-green; head, neck, and breast, bright yellowish-red, sides whitish, lower tail-coverts white, with a brownish-black spot towards the end; on the upper part of the head the central parts of the feathers dark brown, and the hind neck and sides of the breast slightly streaked with the same; upper parts mottled with brownish-black and light red, the rump pale brownish-grey, as are the smaller wing-coverts; quills greyish-brown, primaries darker, outer secondaries light and tipped with white, inner darker, and glossed with green; upper tail-coverts white, spotted with brown and red; tail pale brownish-grey, glossed with green. In winter, the feathers of the upper parts dark brown, edged with darker, and margined with greyish-yellow; lore, cheeks, and sides of the neck and body greyish-yellow, with dusky lines; a broad band from mandible over the eye, the fore part of the neck, and the rest of the lower parts white; quills and tail as in winter, but lighter. Young in autumn like the adult in winter.

Accidental on the Florida coast in winter, rare on those of the middle districts. Breeds in high latitudes. Migratory.

Tringa subarquata, Bonap. Syn. p. 317.

Cape Curlew or Sandpiper, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 104.

Curlew Sandpiper, Tringa subarquata, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 444.

335. 8. Tringa Himantopus, Bonap. Long-legged Sandpiper

Plate CCCXLIV. Adult in spring and winter.

Bill a third longer than the head, slender, very slightly decurved; greenish-black; legs long, slender, yellowish-green. In summer, their upper parts brownish-black, the feathers margined with reddish-white, the edges of the scapulars with semiform markings of the same; rump and upper tail-coverts white, transversely barred with dusky; tail light grey, the feathers white at the base and along the middle; primary quills and coverts brownish-black, inner tinged with grey, the shaft of the outer primary white; secondaries brownish-grey, margined with reddish-white, the inner dusky; a broad whitish line over the eye; loral space dusky; auriculars pale brownish-red; fore part and sides of neck greyish-white tinged with red, and longitudinally streaked with dusky, the rest of the lower parts pale reddish, transversely barred with dusky, the middle of the breast and the abdomen without markings. In winter, the upper parts brownish-grey, the head narrowly streaked with dusky, the scapulars plainly margined with whitish; the rump and wings as in summer; the band over the eye lighter, the fore part and sides of neck greyish-white, longitudinally streaked with grey, the sides similar, and with the lower coverts barred with grey, the rest of the lower parts white.

Male, 71/2-83/4, 151/2-17. Female, 81/2-101/2, 161/2-18.

Abundant in Texas in spring. Rare in the Middle Districts. Breeds in the Fur Countries. Migratory.

Tringa himantopus, Bonap. Syn. p. 316.

Tringa Douglassii, Swains. Douglass' Sandpiper, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 379.

Tringa himantopus, Slender-shank Sandpiper, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 380.

Long-legged Sandpiper, Audubon's Stilt Sandpiper, Douglass' Stilt Sandpiper. Nutt. Man. v. ii. pp. 138, 140, 141.

Long-legged Sandpiper, Tringa himantopus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 332.

336. 9. Tringa Schinzii, Brehm. Schinz's Sandpiper

Plate CCLXXVIII. Male and Female.

Bill about the length of the head, straight, and with the feet greenish-dusky; general colour of upper parts brownish-black, each feather edged with yellowish-grey, the scapulars with light red; wing-coverts greyish-brown, the shaft black; primary and secondary coverts tipped with white; quills brownish-grey, darker toward the tips, inner primaries and outer secondaries more or less edged and tipped with white; tail-feathers white, with a dusky spot, excepting the central two, which are blackish, with a few greyish-white markings; tail-feathers light grey, the two middle brownish-black towards the end; sides of the head, fore neck, anterior part of breast and sides greyish-white, with small lanceolate central brownish-black spots; the rest of the lower parts white.

Male, 71/2, 143/4.

From Labrador to St Augustine in Florida, and Kentucky, during autumn. Missouri. Saskatchewan Plains. Not very rare. Migratory. Breeds in high northern latitudes.

Tringa Schinzii, Bonap. Syn. p. 249.

Tringa Schinzii, Schinz's Sandpiper, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 384.

Schinz's Sandpiper, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 109.

Schinz's Sandpiper, Tringa Schinzii, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 529.

337. 10. Tringa semipalmata, Wils. Semipalmated Sandpiper

Plate CCCCV. Adult.

Bill as long as the head, greenish-dusky; feet dull yellowish-green; upper part of head, cheeks, hind part and sides of neck, ash-grey, streaked with dusky; on the rest of the upper parts the feathers dusky-brown, margined with pale grey, those on the rump and the upper tail-coverts blackish-brown; secondary coverts tipped with white; alula and primary coverts brownish-black, the latter tipped with white; primary quills greyish-black, with white shafts; secondary quills more grey; primaries externally edged with white towards the base, as are the outer secondaries in a fainter degree, as well as terminally, some of them also having the greater part of the inner web greyish-white; two middle tail-feathers greyish-black on the inner web, their outer web and all the other feathers ash-grey; anterior part of forehead, and a band over the eye greyish-white; lower parts white.

Adult, 63/4, 121/2.

Exceedingly abundant from Texas to Maine, in winter, spring, and autumn. Breeds from Labrador northward. Columbia River. Migratory.

Semipalmated Sandpiper, Tringa semipalmata, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. vii. p. 131.

Tringa semipalmata. Bonap. Syn. p. 316.

Semipalmated Sandpiper, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 136.

Semipalmated Sandpiper, Tringa semipalmata, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 111.

338. 11. Tringa pusilla, Wils. Little Sandpiper

Plate CCCXX. Male and Female.

Bill a little shorter than the head, straight, greenish-dusky, feet pale dull yellowish-green; feathers of the upper parts brownish-black, broadly margined with light brownish-red, some of the scapulars margined externally with white, and the larger glossed with green; alula, primary coverts, primary quills, and outer secondaries, greyish-black, all more or less narrowly tipped with greyish-white; secondary coverts largely tipped with the same; primaries externally edged with white toward the base, as are the outer secondaries in a fainter degree, the inner webs of some of the latter greyish-white toward the base, their shafts white; rump and upper tail-coverts black; two middle tail-feathers black, with pale brownish-red edges, the next feather on each side greyish-brown, edged with greyish-white, the outer four pale greyish-brown, very narrowly margined externally, more broadly internally, and along their points with greyish-white; lateral tail-coverts with the outer web white; from the forehead over the eye to the occiput, a band of dull greyish-white, faintly streaked with dusky; loral band and ear-coverts brownish-dusky; cheeks dull greyish-white, faintly streaked with dusky; throat greyish-white; sides and fore part of neck of the same colour, faintly streaked with dusky; the rest of the lower parts, including the axillars, pure white; lower surface of wing pale brownish-grey. In autumn and winter the red edgings of the upper parts are substituted by light grey.

Male, 55/8, 113/8.

Distributed along the whole coast from Texas eastward, and throughout all intermediate districts to the Columbia River. Breeds in Labrador and the Fur Countries. Found even along the lakes and ponds in the woods. Very abundant. Migratory.

Little Sandpiper, Tringa pusilla, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. v. p. 32.

Tringa pusilla, Bonap. Syn. p. 319.

Wilson's Sandpiper, Tringa Wilsonii, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 120.

Little Sandpiper, Tringa pusilla, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 180.

* Third toe wanting.

339. 12. Tringa arenaria. Sanderling Sandpiper

Plate CCLXXXV. Summer. Plate CCXXX. Male and Female in winter.

Bill about the length of the head, straight, and with the feet black; hind toe wanting. In winter the general colour of the plumage ash-grey, the lower parts pure white; alula and primaries brownish-black, the latter with more or less white on their outer webs, or along the shaft; secondaries white, the outer with a patch of black towards the end, the inner ash-grey; primary coverts greyish-black, tipped with white; middle tail-feathers greyish-brown, their shafts white, the rest of a paler tint on the outer webs, white on the inner, the lateral almost pure white. In summer the upper parts of the head, hind neck, lateral, and fore part of the neck, pale yellowish-red, streaked with brownish-black; the back similarly marked, with larger spots, and on the scapulars disposed in bars; the tips of most of the feathers greyish-white; the other parts as in winter.

Male, 710/12, 121/2.

From Texas along the coast to Maine in autumn and spring, extremely abundant. Breeds from Lat. 55° northward.

Ruddy Plover, Charadrius rubidus, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. vii. p. 129. Summer.

Sanderling Plover, Charadrius Calidris, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. vii. p. 68. Winter.

Calidris arenaria, Sanderling, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 366.

Sanderling Plover, Calidris arenaria, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 4.

Sanderling, Tringa arenaria, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 231; v. v. p. 582.

GENUS II. PHALAROPUS, Briss. PHALAROPE

Bill scarcely longer than the head, straight, slender, at the base somewhat cylindrical, toward the end broader and flattened, the tips narrowed; upper mandible with the dorsal line straight, excepting at the end, where it is a little decurved, the ridge convex, flattened at the broad part, the sides slightly sloping, the edges rounded, and near the tip inflected; nasal groove linear, extending to near the tip; lower mandible with the angle very long and narrow, the sides convex and sloping outwards, the tip narrowed. Nostrils basal, linear-elliptical. Head small, with the fore part high and rounded; neck of moderate length; body rather full. Feet rather short, slender; tibia bare a short way above the joint; tarsus much compressed, narrowed before and behind, covered anteriorly with numerous scutella; toes very slender, first extremely small, free, with a slight membrane beneath; second shorter than the fourth; third toe much longer, all scutellate above, the anterior margined on both sides with lobed and pectinated membranes, which are united at the base, so as to render the foot nearly half-webbed, the outer web much longer than the inner. Claws very small, compressed, arched, obtuse. Plumage soft and blended; wings long and pointed, first quill longest, secondary quills rather short, the inner much elongated. Tail of moderate length, much rounded, of twelve feathers, the lower tail-coverts as long.

340. 1. Phalaropus fulicarius, Bonap. Red Phalarope

Plate CCLV. Male and Female in summer. Male in winter.

In summer, the bill greenish-yellow, black at the point; feet pale green; upper part of head black; loral space and chin blackish-grey; sides of head, and a band round the occiput, white; sides and fore part of neck, breast, abdomen, and lower tail-coverts deep orange-red; fore part of back, scapulars, and inner secondaries, black, the feathers edged with whitish; wing-coverts deep ash-grey; quills dark greenish-brown, their shafts and basal parts white; the ends of the secondary and primary coverts, and the basal part of the outer webs of the primaries white, forming a band of that colour on the wing; upper tail-coverts orange-red; tail deep grey, darker towards the end, slightly tipped with reddish. Female in summer with the upper part variegated with light red and brownish-black, the central part of each feather being of the latter colour; the upper tail-coverts entirely of the former; tail deep grey, as in the male; lower parts of a less pure red, being paler, and tinged with grey. In winter the bill nearly black, upper and fore part of head, fore part and sides of neck, breast, abdomen, lower and lateral upper tail-coverts, with a band across the wing, white; a brownish-black line from the eye to the occiput, which is of the same colour, as well as in the middle of the hind neck; back, scapulars, and inner secondaries, ash-grey.

Adult, 71/2, 13.

Occasionally in flocks in Kentucky, on the Ohio, during autumn often at sea on the Grand Banks of Newfoundland. Breeds in high northern latitudes, as far as Melville Peninsula. Stragglers at times reach as far south as New Jersey, but the route of this species toward warmer regions, is along the Pacific coast.

Red Phalarope, Phalaropus hyperboreus, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. ix. p. 75.

Phalaropus fulicarius, Bonap. Syn. p. 341.

Phalaropus fulicarius, Flat-billed Phalarope, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 407.

Red Phalarope, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 236.

Red Phalarope, Phalaropus fulicarius, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 404.

GENUS III. LOBIPES, Cuv. LOBEFOOT

Bill at least as long as the head, extremely slender, straight, nearly cylindrical, towards the end tapering; upper mandible with the dorsal line straight, unless at the end, where it is a little decurved, the ridge broad and depressed, the sides slightly sloping, the edges rounded, and inflected towards the narrow acute tip; nasal groove long, linear; lower mandible with the angle very long and narrow, the sides convex, the tip narrowed. Head small, with the fore part high and rounded; neck of moderate length; body rather slender. Feet moderate, slender; tibia bare at the lower part; tarsus extremely compressed, narrowed before and behind, covered anteriorly with numerous scutella; toes slender, first extremely small, free, with a slight membrane beneath, second slightly shorter than fourth; toes all scutellate above, the anterior webbed at the base, and margined on both sides with a lobed or sinuated membrane. Claws very small, arched, compressed, acute. Plumage soft, and blended. Wings long and pointed, the first quill longest; inner secondaries very long and tapering; tail of twelve feathers rounded or nearly even. Tongue extremely slender, grooved above, tapering to a horny point; œsophagus narrow, uniform; stomach rounded, muscular, with the epithelium dense and longitudinally rugous; intestine of moderate length and width; cœca rather long. Trachea much flattened, with a single pair of inferior laryngeal muscles.

341. 1. Lobipes hyperboreus, Lath. Hyperborean Lobefoot

Plate CCXV. Male and Female.

Bill about the same length as the head, membranes of the toes scolloped, tail much rounded; upper parts greyish-black, the head lighter and more tinged with grey, the scapulars and some of the feathers of the back edged with yellowish-red, of which colour are the sides of the head and neck; throat and sides of the upper part of the neck white; wing-coverts and quills brownish-black, tinged with grey, the shafts of the quills, margins, and tips of secondaries, and a broad bar on the tip of the secondary coverts white; tail light grey, the feathers margined with white, the two middle dark brownish-grey, lateral upper tail-coverts white, barred with dusky; breast and abdomen white. Young similar, but with the colours paler.

Male, 6, 131/2; wing 53/4.

Rarely seen south of New York. Plentiful at some periods from Massachusetts to Maine. Abundant in the Bay of Fundy during spring and autumn. Breeds in Labrador and along all the Arctic coast. Migratory.

Phalaropus hyperboreus. Bonap. Syn. p. 342.

Hyperborean Phalarope, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 239.

Hyperborean Phalarope, Phalaropus hyperboreus, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 118; v. v. p. 595.

342. 2. Lobipes Wilsonii, Sabine. Wilson's Lobefoot

Plate CCLIV. Male and Young.

Bill half as long again as the head; membranes of the toes merely sinuous, tail nearly even; general colour of upper parts brownish-grey, hind neck and rump greyish-white, crown of head ash-grey; a white line over the eye; a band of black on the lore, under the eye, and down the side of the neck, where it enlarges, and changes into chestnut-red, extending down the back; another chestnut band crosses the wing, and includes part of the inner secondaries; quills greyish-brown, outer primaries and their coverts much darker, the shaft of the first white, tail-feathers pale brownish-grey on the outer, white more or less mottled on the inner webs; throat and cheeks white; fore neck orange-brown, fading below, and extending paler over the sides of the body; breast, abdomen, and lower wing-coverts white.

Adult, 10, 171/2.

Procured in Kentucky, New Jersey, and Boston. Breeds abundantly on the Rocky Mountains. Saskatchewan River. Winters in Mexico.

Grey Phalarope, Phalaropus lobatus, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. ix. p. 72.

Phalaropus Wilsonii, Bonap. Syn. p. 342.

Wilson's Phalarope, Phalaropus Wilsonii, Bonap. Amer. Orn. v. iv. p. 59.

Phalaropus Wilsonii, Wilson's Phalarope, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 405.

American Phalarope, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 245.

Wilson's Phalarope, Phalaropus Wilsonii, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 400.

GENUS IV. TOTANUS, Bechst. TATLER

Bill much longer than the head, very slender, subcylindrical, straight, flexible, compressed at the base, the point rather depressed and obtuse; upper mandible with the dorsal line straight, the ridge convex, as are the sides, the edges thick, the tip slightly deflected; lower mandible with the angle very long and narrow, the dorsal line straight, the sides convex, with a slight groove in their basal half, the edges grooved longitudinally, as are those of the upper, the tip narrow. Nostrils basal, linear. Head of moderate size, oblong; neck rather long and slender; body slender. Feet very long and slender; tibia bare for half its length; tarsus compressed, scutellate before and behind; hind toe very small, anterior of moderate length, connected by webs at the base, all scutellate above. Claws small, slightly arched, rather obtuse. Plumage soft and blended; wings long, narrow, pointed; first quill longest, inner secondaries long; tail short, of twelve rounded feathers.

343. 1. Totanus macularius, Wils. Spotted Tatler. – Spotted Sandpiper. Peet-weet

Plate CCCX. Male and Female.

Bill a little longer than the head, very slender, flexible, greenish above, yellow beneath, legs rather long and slender, pale flesh-colour; upper parts glossy greenish-olive, with bronze reflections, the head longitudinally streaked, the back transversely undulated with dusky; lower parts white, marked with numerous brownish-black spots, smaller on the throat, largest and roundish on the breast and sides. Young with the upper feathers of the upper parts terminally margined with dusky, the wing-coverts barred, the lower parts pure white.

Male, 8, 133/4.

Breeds from the Texas along the shores to Maine, the islands of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and Labrador. Inland all over the country. Very common. Resident in the Southern States. Columbia River.