Shorebirds
An impressive 74 species of shorebirds have occurred at least once in Alaska. Three others are on the state’s unsubstantiated list.
Bristle-thighed Curlew Numenius tahitiensis, Kougarok Road, near Nome, 30 June 2008.
The large golden spots on the mantle, buffy orange tones on the flanks and tail, and breast streaking confined to a neat bib combine to separate this curlew from Whimbrel. In flight the rump flashes as a bright apricot-buff “tail light.” In addition, the bill curves more evenly throughout than on a Whimbrel and is slightly thicker at the tip. The call, a loud “Pee-o-weet” and another that reminds me of the sound of tuning in a ham radio are diagnostic.
Marbled Godwit Limosa fedoa beringiae, Hartney Bay, Cordova, 9 May 2007.
The beringiae subspecies of Marbled Godwit breeds on the Alaska Peninsula and is a regular spring migrant through south coastal Alaska.
Juvenile Gray-tailed Tattler Tringa brevipes, Gambell, 5 September 2007.
Note the heavily spotted upperparts and the dingy brown wash to the wing coverts and scapulars. Gray-tailed Tattlers are regular migrants in western Alaska, especially in the fall.
Juvenile Gray-tailed Tattler Tringa brevipes (foreground) and a juvenile Wandering Tattler T. incana (background) from Gambell, 4 September 2005.
On the Gray-tailed note the heavily spotted upperparts (Wandering is only sparsely spotted on the wing coverts) and dingy brownish tones to the tertials, wing coverts and scapulars; the upper-parts of the Wandering are a cooler blue-gray. These brownish-gray tones on the Gray-tailed Tattler are subtle, but are especially noticeable in side by side comparison. The calls of the birds are diagnostic: “tu tu tu tu tu” of the Wandering and a two-note “tu weet” of the Gray-tailed.
Semipalmated Sandpiper Calidris pussila, Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, 12 June 2008.
White-rumped Sandpiper Calidris fuscicollis, Barrow, 8 June 2007.
White-rumped Sandpiper is considered “rare” on the Alaska checklist. They are sparse breeders along the arctic coast occurring as far west as Barrow where a few birds are found most springs. This bird was part of a pair that was actively displaying and defending a piece of sod from 2 other White-rumps and a pair of Baird’s Sandpipers.
