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RED KNOT  Calidris canutus 25.5–26.5cm. Medium-size, rather fat migrant

sandpiper of tidal mudflats, beaches, river mouths, salt ponds. Winters locally

in small compact flocks; elsewhere mainly singles, associating loosely with other

sandpipers and often with Black-bellied Plovers. Feeds mainly by probing.

Rather nondescript in winter, but nothing really similar in size and shape; body

slightly larger than dowitchers, but bill obviously shorter. Breeding plumage

may be seen briefly in spring, less often on worn fall migrants. SOUNDS: Nasal

inflected che’wet and upslurred wek in flight. STATUS: Uncommon but local

Aug–Apr around Gulf of Nicoya, rare elsewhere on Pacific coast, more

widespread in migration; rare and local on Caribbean coast. (Breeds n. Eurasia and N America, winters s.

in New World to S America.)

STILT SANDPIPER  Calidris himantopus 20–21.5cm. Medium-size, rather

long-legged migrant sandpiper of marshes, lakeshores, coastal lagoons, salt

ponds; less often estuaries, beaches. Often in groups, locally 100s, feeding and

roosting with Long-billed Dowitchers; less often singles mixed among other

shorebirds. Feeds by probing while wading up to its belly, rear end typically

raised steeply out of water. Nonbr. slightly smaller and paler gray than nonbr.

Long-billed Dowitcher, with whitish brow, shorter black bill with slightly

drooped tip; in flight note white rump, feet projecting well past tail tip. Cf.

Lesser Yellowlegs. SOUNDS:  Mostly silent; quiet grunting greh on occasion.

STATUS: Uncommon to fairly common Aug–Oct, Mar–May, along Pacific coast, and locally in winter in

nw. lowlands; very rare on Caribbean coast. (Breeds N America, winters Mexico to S America.)

SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER  Limnodromus griseus 24–28cm. Best iden­

tified by voice. Medium-size, long-billed sandpiper of coastal habitats, from

tidal flats to salt ponds, river mouths, mangroves; also freshwater, mainly in

migration. Often in flocks, associating with other shorebirds. Feeds mainly

while wading, by rapid, steady, ‘sewing-machine’ probing, head raised briefly

between bouts of probing. Dowitchers are distinctive as dowitchers (note white

stripe up back in flight), but plumages of the two species very similar and voice

is the most reliable ID feature. Long-billed favors freshwater, is darker in all

plumages, and dark tail bars average wider than white bars, vs. narrower on

Short-billed. Long-billed juv. has narrow chestnut edging to upperparts, lacks buff notching on tertials

and coarser mottling on scapulars of juv. Short-billed; nonbr. has darker chest without dusky spotting of

Short-billed; breeding Long-billed is solidly rusty below, barred on sides of breast, with white tips to fresh

scapulars. Populations of Short-billed differ in breeding plumage, some populations extensively rusty

below. SOUNDS: Mellow chu-tu-tu and variations; quality recalls Lesser Yellowlegs. STATUS: Fairly common

to common Aug–May on Pacific coast, smaller numbers on Caribbean coast; a few oversummer locally,

mainly Gulf of Nicoya; scarce and local migrant inland. (Breeds N America, winters to S America.)

LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER  Limnodromus scolopaceus 25.5–29cm. Best

identified by voice. Medium-size, long-billed sandpiper of freshwater wetlands

and lakes, coastal lagoons, mangroves, sewage ponds, flooded fields; rarely tidal

mudflats. Habits much like Short-billed Dowitcher (which see for ID criteria),

and the two species sometimes occur together, mainly during migration and at

roosts. Fresh (spring) breeding plumage shown here; becomes appreciably

darker above and below by fall. SOUNDS: High sharp keek! singly or in rapid

series; recalls piping call of Black-necked Stilt. STATUS: Uncommon to fairly

common late Sep–Apr on Pacific slope, locally inland to 1500m; presumably

occurs on Caribbean coastal slope, at least in migration, but status requires elucidation vs. very similar

Short-billed Dowitcher. (Breeds N America, winters to Cen America.)