Sandpiper or Sanderling (1 Viewer)

[myonlyphoto]

Attached is the photo of group of birds on the shore of Lake of Ontario, just confused between sandpiper or sanderlings. Help please, Anna

 

[njlarsen]

The left-most bird shows a feature typical of Sanderling, a very black area around the bend in the wing.

Niels

 

[lostinjapan]

I think they are all Sanderling. Certainly look like the ones I saw at the weekend.

Cheers

Sean

 

[nickderry]

all sanderling, their paleness stands out from far away.

 

[myonlyphoto]

Thanks guys for the answer and tips. I think I will have to invest a bit more time studying them, now I know what they are. I definitely tought that they were some kind of sandpiper when I saw them first. Thanks again. The photo was taken at Presqu'ile Provincial Park this weekend. Anna

 

[Birdbox]

To be fair, Sanderling is a sandpiper (of the calidrid group).

 

[CAU]

Anna, the term "Sandpiper" is a term that describes a pretty randomly selected group of the smaller waders in the family Scolopacidae. They don't form a consistent group that would be especially closely related to each other. For example the Sanderling and the Semipalmated Sandpiper are considered to be closer relatives than the Semipalmated Sandpiper and the Spotted Sandpiper. And if you use the term "Sandpiper" in a general sense describing a group of species, probably also the Sanderling could be considered to be one (or what do the native English speakers say, I find the English naming conventions for waders to be very unlogical?).

Hopefully I'm not too picky...

Edit: Birdbox was faster...

 

[myonlyphoto]

Oh no you are not picky. The more you guys write the more I learn. This kind of information is quite useful and sometimes better described by you posters than my reference books. Thanks again, Anna

 

[stuart winter]

I find the English naming conventions for waders to be very unlogical?).


Don't blame the English or our language...
Surely if scientific names exist then vernacular names in national languages should prevail. Sanderling is much prettier than Beach Sandpiper, Dunnock is preferable to Hedge Accentor, Dabchick than Little Grebe etc. Confusing
to non-native English speakers but not ILLogical...

S

 

[CAU]

I find the English naming conventions for waders to be very unlogical?).


Don't blame the English or our language...
Surely if scientific names exist then vernacular names in national languages should prevail. Sanderling is much prettier than Beach Sandpiper, Dunnock is preferable to Hedge Accentor, Dabchick than Little Grebe etc. Confusing
to non-native English speakers but not ILLogical...

S

Well, I actually agree...

The most confusing part for me is why Least, Semipalmated and Western Sandpiper are Sandpipers when Little, Long-toed, Temminck's and Red-necked Stint are Stints.

PS.

http://www.answers.com/topic/illogical-unlogical

 

[lou salomon]

because yanks are a bit mouth-lazy and like easy and clear words like "peep" whereas brits prefer sophisticated consonants like in "STinTS" - almost as harsh sounding as the german word but way shorter than it: "zwergstrandläufer" (for little peep ).. why not use the didactic term caluta then ...no, kidding, things like 'dabchick' are really neat (to use a yank word again). these discussions survive like never ending repetitions on BF: names - forget about logic...it's just use and preferences and don't forget, everything is in flow :king: