smittyone@cox.net Posted September 2, 2020 Share Posted September 2, 2020 There were only 2 of them, seen late this afternoon at DeSoto NWR near Missouri Valley, IA. Remarkably, they allowed me to approach to within 10-15 yards. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Connor Cochrane Posted September 2, 2020 Share Posted September 2, 2020 (edited) Looks like a pectoral. Yellow legs, large appearance (compared to a least). Nice photos! Edited September 2, 2020 by Connor Cochrane 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smittyone@cox.net Posted September 2, 2020 Author Share Posted September 2, 2020 Thanks Connor. Although there were no other nearby shorebirds to compare sizes with, they did appear small, though larger than Least Sandpipers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akandula Posted September 2, 2020 Share Posted September 2, 2020 I like Least. Pectorals are more bulky and have a more contrasting breast. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avery Posted September 2, 2020 Share Posted September 2, 2020 Just now, akandula said: I like Least. Pectorals are more bulky and have a more contrasting breast. Agreed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hbvol50 Posted September 2, 2020 Share Posted September 2, 2020 Agree with Least Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Connor Cochrane Posted September 2, 2020 Share Posted September 2, 2020 I should just give up with IDing leasts vs pecs in photos. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benjamin Posted September 2, 2020 Share Posted September 2, 2020 1 minute ago, Connor Cochrane said: I should just give up with IDing leasts vs pecs in photos. Here's a tip: look at the length of the tertials and primaries. In Leasts, the colorful tertials extend all the way to the end of the tail, while on Pectoral the tertials are shorter and the dark primaries are the ones which extend to the end of the tail. Structural differences are very important, but since you're on the west coast and don't see them a lot it can be tricky 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Leukering Posted September 2, 2020 Share Posted September 2, 2020 12 hours ago, Benjamin said: Here's a tip: look at the length of the tertials and primaries. In Leasts, the colorful tertials extend all the way to the end of the tail, while on Pectoral the tertials are shorter and the dark primaries are the ones which extend to the end of the tail. Structural differences are very important, but since you're on the west coast and don't see them a lot it can be tricky I would say that the tertials are nearly as long as the primaries, as the primaries often don't reach the tail tip in Least. While Pectoral's wing tips also do not reach the tail tip, as Benjamin noted, Pectoral tertials end well before the primaries do, leaving many more primary tips exposed. Also note the more-extensive streaking below on Pec as well as the different color and extent of the pale fringing on wing coverts (not the scapulars, which are not wing feathers). Fresh juvenile Least Fresh juvenile Pectoral 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Spencer Posted September 2, 2020 Share Posted September 2, 2020 (edited) 14 hours ago, Connor Cochrane said: large appearance (compared to a least) 13 hours ago, Connor Cochrane said: I should just give up with IDing leasts vs pecs in photos. Well, I did wonder what 'Least' you were comparing it to, since there weren't any other birds in the photo. Edited September 2, 2020 by Charlie Spencer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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