10 replies to this topic

[jenmadison]

I took this Antelope Island, Utah, on Monday.

https://picasaweb.go...feat=directlink

What are they?

Thanks!

[Liam]

Yes, Whimbrels have a contrasting supercilium.

[BarnSwallow]

I'm assuming they're juveniles, Liam? My first thought was whimbrels, but I saw they're out of range. I figured they must be long-billed juveniles, but wasn't sure.

[Liam]

What makes you think juveniles? I don't really see any reason why they're not adults.

[larrcamp]

They do have contrasting supercilium don't they? Those bills don't seem long enough. Can't argue about the range, though.

[Liam]

I see a white crescent over the eye, no supercilium. The supercilium on a Whimbrel would be obvious. Also, Whimbrel's bills are shorter and thicker than this.

I reckon the short (for the species) bill might suggest juvenile LBCU, but these are not Whimbrels.

ETA:

Not my photo, but it demonstrates what I'm saying. Whimbrel: short thick bill, and a contrasting crown/supercilium: http://pb.wildnature...0d_ad4-5624.jpg

Edited by Liam, 21 July 2012 - 08:31 PM.

[Pat B.]

Here is a photo of a LBCU at Antelope Island (May). Notice the really, really long bill. These, if not Whimbrels, are more than likely juveniles.

EDIT: I see a comment about Whimbrels being out of range. Actually, they are somewhat rare here, but they are here and sometimes are hanging out with the LBCUs (I was seeing them in the same general vicinity as Antelope Island in May of this year). I don't have a field guide handy so won't get involved in which they are.

[psweet]

I agree that these are mostly juvenile Long-billed by plumage -- the coverts and scaps appear to be very cleanly marked, whereas an adult right now should have pretty worn feathers.

Although these aren't Whimbrel, I don't think you can rule them out by range anywhere in the country this time of year -- their southbound migration actually starts in mid-June, so by mid-July you could definitely get a few birds in Utah.

[BarnSwallow]

Yeah, the bills looked rather short for long-billeds. Long-billeds have ridiculously long bills, while these have only mildly absurd bills. I saw that whimbrels are basically out of range, but my Sibley's has green dots all over the country, so I'm assuming it wouldn't be unheard of to see them anywhere. I'm not trying to say they are whimbrels at all, just that I couldn't decide between whimbrels and juvy LBs, except for range.

[Pat B.]

-- their southbound migration actually starts in mid-June, so by mid-July you could definitely get a few birds in Utah.

Whimbrels were being reported in the area of the Great Salt Lake by early-mid May. During the Great Salt Lake Bird Festival (5/17-21), there were several confirmed sightings.

[Pat B.]

Long-billeds have ridiculously long bills, while these have only mildly absurd bills.

I love that comparison! I keep searching for the proper adjectives for these guys.

The way I tried to teach myself to tell the difference without getting involved in head patterns, is to think where the tip of the bill would hit if the bird were to just look down without bending his neck. It seems like the LBCU's bill would touch the ground, while the WHIM's would just touch his knees. But, then, I started seeing juvie LBCU's not too long ago and that blew my theory.