Term
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Definition
Black-necked Stilt
Himantopusmexicanus
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Recurvirostridae
Field Marks:
•Tall and slender, with long reddish legs
•Blackish upperparts with white underparts
•Bill long, black, and slightly recurved
Sex:
•Females have more brownish upperparts
•Males have glossier black upperparts
Habitat: Salt marshes and salt ponds
Life History:
•Occurs year-round in CA |
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Term
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Definition
American Avocet
Recurvirostraamericana
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Recurvirostridae
Field Marks:
•Large and long-legged
•Black and white upperparts with white underparts
•Head and neck grayish (basic plumage) or reddish (alternate)
•Long, grayish-blue legs
•Long, thin, recurved bill
Sex:
•Female has shorter, more strongly recurved bill
Habitat: Salt ponds, marshes, and mudflats
Life History:
•Occurs year-round in parts of CA
•Bill extremely sensitive, and can be used for tactile foraging on inverts |
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Term
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Definition
Black Oystercatcher
Haematopusbachmani
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Haematopodidae
Field Marks:
•Large and completely blackish
•Long, straight, orange-red bill with yellow tip
•Yellow iris with orange-red eye ring
•Sturdy pale pink legs
Sex: Monomorphic
Habitat: Rocky ocean shorelines
Life History:
•Occurs year-round in CA
•Nests just above high-tide line, and forages in intertidal zone |
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Term
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Definition
Black-bellied Plover
Pluvialissquatarola
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Charadriidae
Field Marks:
•Gray-brown above with gray-brown breast and white belly
•In alternate plumage, underparts black from chin to upper belly blackish with whitish crown and undertail
•Relatively large and heavy-bodied, with thick neck and lage head
•Short, thick bill tapers evenly to blunt tip
•Webbing between middle and outer toes well developed
•Short hallux (rarely absent)
Sex:
•Male typically has solid black underparts in alternate plumage
•Female typically has mottled underparts in alternate plumage
Habitat: Coastal beaches and estuaries
Life History:
•Occurs in CA primarily in winter
•Has large eyes, adapted to nocturnal foraging
•Quick to give alarm calls, and functions as a sentinel for mixed shorebird assemblages worldwide |
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Term
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Definition
Snowy Plover
Charadriusalexandrinus
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Charadriidae
Field Marks:
•Small, with pale brown upperparts and white underparts
•White collar with partial breastband restricted to lateral patches
•Thin, entirely black bill
•Legs dark gray to blackish
•In alternate plumage, dark auriculars and darker breastband
Sex: Monomorphic
Habitat: Sparsely vegetated sandy beaches
Life History:
•Neotropical migrant, nesting in CA
Conservation:
•Federal Threatened species (Western subspecies C. a. nivosus only)
•Causes include degradation of beach-front habitat and disturbances at nests |
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Term
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Definition
Semipalmated Plover
Charadriussemipalmatus
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Charadriidae
Field Marks:
•Small, with brown upperparts and white underparts
•White collar with single black breastband
•White forehead and postocular stripe (may form supercilium in basic plumage)
•Gray-brown forecrown and sides of head (black in alternate plumage)
•Wings and tail dark, with single white stripe at base of remiges
•Short, stubby bill is black with orange to yellow base
•Legs dull yellow to orange
Sex:
•Females tend to have brown feathers in breast band and forecrown, and bolder postocular stripe
Habitat:
•Coastal beaches, mudflats, estuaries, lakes and marshes
Life History:
•Occurs primarily in CA in winter |
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Term
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Definition
Killdeer
Charadrius vociferous
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Charadriidae
Field Marks:
•Medium-sized with grayish-brown upperparts and white underparts
•White collar with two black breastbands
•Rump and uppertail coverts rufous
•Long wings and tail
Sex: Monomorphic
Habitat:
•Mudflats, freshwater marshes, agricultural fields, and golf courses
Life History:
•Occurs year-round in CA
•Loud and vocal
•Known for their elaborate broken-wing displays |
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Term
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Definition
Mountain Plover
Charadriusmontanus
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Charadriidae
Field Marks:
•Medium-sized with sandy brown upperparts and white underparts
•No breastbands
•Black bill
•In alternate plumage, blackish forecrown and black stripe connects bill to eye
Habitat: Grasslands and agricultural fields
Life History:
•Most of the population winters in CA and nests in the Great Plains
•North American endemic
Conservation:
•CA Species of Special Concern
•Likely causes include loss of native grasslands |
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Term
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Definition
Spotted Sandpiper
Actitismacularia
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Scolopacidae
Field Marks:
•Grayish-brown upperparts with white underparts
•Dark eye line with whitish supercilium
•Pale fleshy legs
•In alternate plumage, underparts with black spots
Sex: Monomorphic
Habitat: Found in a wide variety of aquatic habitats
Life History:
•Occurs year-round in parts of CA
•Very broad breeding range, due to generalist habits
•Polyandrous, and have reversed sex roles: females more active in courtship, and males provide more parental care |
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Term
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Definition
Wandering Tattler
Tringaincanus
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Scolopacidae
Field Marks:
•Plain gray upperparts
•Narrow white supercilia almost join on forehead
•Dark eye line
•In alternate plumage, underparts heavily barred
•Short, thick, yellow legs
•Straight, medium-length bill
Sex: Monomorphic
Habitat: Rocky shorelines
Life History:
•Occurs primarily in CA in winter
•Has been renamed Tringaincacafollowing genetic analysis |
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Term
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Definition
Spotted Sandpiper
Actitismacularia
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Scolopacidae
Field Marks:
•Grayish-brown upperparts with white underparts
•Dark eye line with whitish supercilium
•Pale fleshy legs
•In alternate plumage, underparts with black spots
Sex: Monomorphic
Habitat: Found in a wide variety of aquatic habitats
Life History:
•Occurs year-round in parts of CA
•Very broad breeding range, due to generalist habits
•Polyandrous, and have reversed sex roles: females more active in courtship, and males provide more parental care |
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Term
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Definition
Greater Yellowlegs
Tringamelanoleuca
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Scolopacidae
Field Marks:
•Dark brown upperparts with pale spots, and pale underparts
•Slender and long-necked
•No wing stripe
•Long, bright yellow legs
•Dark bill that is much longer than head, and relatively thick at base
•In alternate plumage, has heavy dark streaks on head and neck, and barring on flanks and upper belly
Sex: Monomorphic
Habitat:
•Fresh or saltwater marshes, mudflats, lakes, and agricultural fields
Life History:
•Occurs in CA in winter
•Eats a variety of invertebrates and small fish |
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Term
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Definition
Willet
Tringasemipalmatus
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Scolopacidae
Field Marks:
•Large size, with gray to brownish-gray upperparts
•In alternate plumage, upperparts barred and streaked
•Broad white wing stripe on dark wings
•Blue-gray legs
•Straight bill
Sex: Monomorphic
Habitat:
•Mudflat, marsh, sandy beaches, rocky shorelines
Life History:
•Occurs primarily in CA in winter
•Has been renamed Tringasemipalmata following genetic analysis |
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Term
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Definition
Lesser Yellowlegs
Tringaflavipes
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Scolopacidae
Field Marks:
•Upperparts brown with pale spots, and pale underparts
•Slender and long-necked
•No wing stripe
•Long, bright yellow legs
•Dark bill that is only slightly longer than head, and thin at base
•In alternate plumage, has heavy dark streaks on head and neck, and barring on flanks and upper belly
Sex: Monomorphic
Habitat:
•Fresh or saltwater marshes, mudflats, lakes, and estuaries
Life History:
•Occurs in CA in winter |
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Term
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Definition
Whimbrel
Numeniusphaeopus
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Scolopacidae
Field Marks:
•Upperparts dark brown, mottled buff, with brown-streaked underparts
•Long, decurved bill
•Dark crown with buff median stripe, buff supercilium, and dark eye line
•Grayish-brown underwing
Sex: Monomorphic
Habitat: Mudflats, estuaries, and marshes
Life History:
•Occurs in CA in winter
•Eat primarily marine invertebrates
•At least in Panama, bill decurvature matches the burrow curve of Fiddler crabs |
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Term
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Definition
Long-billed Curlew
Numeniusamericanus
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Scolopacidae
Field Marks:
•Plumage buffy-cinnamon overall, with upperparts streaked dark brown and crown plain
•Cinnamon under wing
•Large and long-legged, with very long decurved bill
Sex: Female tends to be larger with longer bill
Habitat:
•Estuaries, sandy beaches, agricultural fields
Life History:
•Occurs in CA primarily in winter
•Largest North American shorebird
•Bill is best-adapted for capturing shrimp and crabs in deep burrows
Conservation:
•CA Species of Special Concern
•Causes likely include loss of breeding and migration stop-over habitat |
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Term
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Definition
Marbled Godwit
Limosafedoa
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Scolopacidae
Field Marks:
•Plumage buffy-cinnamon overall, with upperparts streaked dark brown
•In alternate plumage, underparts heavily barred
•Cinnamon under wing
•Large and long-legged, with long slightly recurved, bicolored bill
Sex: Females larger, with longer bill
Habitat: Mudflats, estuaries, and grasslands
Life History:
•Occurs in CA primarily in winter
•Sometimes forages almost exclusively on plant tubers during migration |
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Term
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Definition
Ruddy Turnstone
Arenariainterpres
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Scolopacidae
Field Marks:
•Small with dark grayish-brown upperparts and white underparts
•Rounded, bilobed border between dark breast and white belly
•In alternate plumage, upperparts rufous with blackish patches; black and white head, neck, and breast
•White patches on back, inner wing, wing stripe, and uppertail
•Clean white underwing
•Short range legs
•Short, black, slightly upturned bill
Sex: Monomorphic
Habitat: Rocky or sandy beaches
Life History:
•Occurs in CA in winter
•Breeds in the tundra from Alaska to Greenland, and is poorly studied
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Term
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Definition
Black Turnstone
Arenariamelanocephala
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Scolopacidae
Field Marks:
•Small with dark brownish-black upperparts and white underparts
•Straight border between dark breast and white belly
•In alternate plumage, upperparts with greenish iridescence; white lore spot; fine white streaks on head and breast
•White patches on back, inner wing, wing stripe, and uppertail
•Clean white underwing
•Short pinkish-brown legs
•Short, black, slightly upturned bill
Sex: Monomorphic
Habitat: Rocky shorelines
Life History:
•Occurs in CA in winter
•Strictly a bird of western North America
•Named for habit of flipping over objects to find food |
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Term
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Definition
Surfbird
Calidrisvirgata
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Scolopacidae
Field Marks:
•Upperparts, head, and breast gray with whitish underparts
•In alternate plumage, upperparts blackish with rufous on scapulars and underparts heavily streaked and spotted
•Short, straight bill with yellowish base
•Short, yellow legs
Sex: Monomorphic
Habitat: Rocky shorelines
Life History:
•Occurs in CA in winter
•Long, narrow winter range extends from Alaska to Chile, and is confined to rocky shoreline and intertidal zone |
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Term
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Definition
Sanderling
Calidris alba
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Scolopacidae
Field Marks:
•Small with pale gray upperparts, dark shoulder, and white underparts
•Broad white wing stripe bordered with black
•In alternate plumage, upperparts reddish to sandy brown with blackish and whitish mottling
•Short, straight, and stout black bill
•Black legs and feet, with no hallux
Sex: Monomorphic
Habitat: Sandy beaches
Life History:
•Occurs in CA in winter, breeding in high Arctic tundra
•While foraging, constantly runs ahead of incoming waves or chasing after receding ones |
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Term
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Definition
Dunlin
Calidrisalpina
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Scolopacidae
Field Marks:
•Medium-sized with light brownish-gray upperparts and white underparts
•In alternate plumage, black belly, rufous cap and upperparts
•In flight, white wing bar on dark wing; white wing lining
•Long, black, slightly decurved bill
•Black legs and feet
Sex: Monomorphic
Habitat:
•Mudflats, estuaries, bays, marshes, and agricultural fields
Life History:
•Occurs in CA in winter |
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Term
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Definition
Least Sandpiper
Calidrisminutilla
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Scolopacidae
Field Marks:
•Small with dark brownish-gray upperparts and white underparts
•Breast brownish
•In alternate plumage, upperparts darker with more rufous
•Short, thin, slightly decurved black bill
•Legs usually yellowish-green
Sex: Monomorphic
Habitat: Mudflats, estuaries, and marshes
Life History:
•Occurs in CA in winter, but winter range extends far into S. America
•Smallest shorebird in the world |
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Term
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Definition
Western Sandpiper
Calidrismauri
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Scolopacidae
Field Marks:
•Small with pale brownish-gray upperparts and white underparts
•Breast whitish
•In alternate plumage, bright chestnut scapulars, crown, and auriculars
•Long, black, slightly decurved bill
•Black legs and feet
Sex: Monomorphic
Habitat: Sandy beaches and mudflats
Life History:
•Occurs in CA in winter
•One of the most common shorebirds of the western hemisphere
•In migration, huge flocks form in staging areas (e.g. SF Bay) |
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Term
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Definition
Short-billed Dowitcher
Limnodromusgriseus
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Scolopacidae
Field Marks:
•Medium-sized with drab gray upperparts and white underparts
•Gray upper breast and white lower breast not sharply defined
•Wing tips project just beyond tip of tail
•In alternate plumage, upperparts mottled brown, black, and buff; underparts pale rufous with white belly, and dense spotting
•Short whitish supercilium and dark eye line
•Tail barred black and white with white wedge-shaped rump patch
•Long, straight, dark bill
•Steeper forehead; more arched supercilium
Sex: Monomorphic
Habitat: Primarily saltwater marshes and mudflats
Life History:
•Occurs in CA in winter
•Known for its characteristic “sewing machine” motion when feeding
•Best separated from Long-billed Dowitcher by voice: “tututu” |
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Term
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Definition
Long-billed Dowitcher
Limnodromusscolopaceus
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Scolopacidae
Field Marks:
•Medium-sized, with drab gray upperparts and white underparts
•Sharp delineation between gray upper breast and white lower breast
•Wing tips do not extend past tail
•In alternate plumage, upperparts mottled brown, black, and buff; underparts entirely rufous with dark barring tipped white
•Short whitish supercilium and dark eye line
•Tail barred black and white with white wedge-shaped rump patch
•Long, straight, dark bill
•Flatter forehead; straighter supercilium
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Sex: Monomorphic
Habitat: Primarily freshwater marshes
Life History:
•Occurs in CA in winter
•Known for its characteristic “sewing machine” motion when feeding
•Best separated from Short-billed Dowitcher by voice: “keek” |
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Term
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Definition
Wilson’s Snipe
Gallinagodelicata
formerly Common Snipe (Gallinagogallinago)
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Scolopacidae
Field Marks:
•Medium-sized with brown, black, and gray, striped and spotted upperparts, forming 4 pale lines down the back
•Underparts primarily white, with breast, and flanks streaked brown
•Crown striped black and buffy
•Long, straight bill
•Short orange tail visible in flight
Sex: Monomorphic
Habitat: Freshwater marshes and agricultural fields
Life History:
•Occurs year-round in parts of CA, but primarily in winter
•Flushes in a rapid zig-zag flight |
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Term
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Definition
Wilson’s Phalarope
Phalaropus tricolor
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Scolopacidae
Field Marks:
•Slender with pale gray upperparts with white face, rump, and underparts
•Plain gray wings with no wing stripe
•Small-headed with thin, needle-like, dark bill
•Long, yellow legs (black in breeding season)
Sex:
•Females in alternate plumage have blue-gray crown, white supercilium, and black stripe through eye and down neck; cinnamon-buff neck; chestnut scapulars
•Males in alternate plumage are less brightly plumaged, with white throat and cinnamon-buff nape, but with considerable variability
Habitat: Marshes and hypersaline lakes
Life History:
•Breeds in CA, and collects in large numbers at several staging grounds for migration to South America, e.g.: Mono Lake, Salton Sea
•Polyandrous and has reversed sexual roles, with females performing courtship displays and males providing most care for the young |
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Term
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Definition
Red-necked Phalarope
Phalaropuslobatus
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Scolopacidae
Field Marks:
•Small with gray upperparts and white underparts
•Dark wings with white wing stripe
•Black eyepatch and rear crown patch
•Small-headed with thin, needle-like, dark bill
Sex:
•Females in alternate plumage have dark gray to black head, neck, and breast, white throat and eye spot, and bright chestnut from ear down sides of neck; dark gray upperparts; golden stripes down back
•Males in alternate plumage paler overall, with brownish-gray upperparts, and whitish supercilium; may lack red patch
Habitat: Hypersaline lakes, estuaries, salt marshes
Life History:
•Occurs in CA in winter near San Diego and the Salton Sea
•Regularly seen on migration in spring and fall
•Polyandrous and has reversed sexual roles, with females performing courtship displays and males providing most care for the young |
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