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        Discussion Area 討論區 >> Bird Identification 鳥類辨識 >>  Wood? Green Sandpiper?  白腰草鷸？林鷸？
        
(Message started by: me_domchan on Apr 18^th, 2005, 4:16pm)

Title: Wood? Green Sandpiper? 白腰草鷸？林鷸？
Post by me_domchan on Apr 18^th, 2005, 4:16pm

Mai Po
10/3/05; 13/3/05
DSLR

Is this a Green Sandpiper? How to distinguish wood/geen sandpiper in the field?

http://images2.fotop.net/albums/dominicchan/G_sandpiper/G_Sandpiper_52493_MPNR050310.jpg

http://images2.fotop.net/albums/dominicchan/G_sandpiper/G_Sandpiper_52494_MPNR050310.jpg

http://images2.fotop.net/albums/dominicchan/G_sandpiper/G_Sandpiper_52696_MPNR050313.jpg

Title: Re: Wood? Green Sandpiper? 白腰草鷸？林鷸？
Post by Mike Kilburn on Apr 18^th, 2005, 4:25pm

This is a Green Sandpiper in summer plumage.

Unfortunately the pix in the Guide to the Birds of Hong Kong and South China are not toohelpful for these 2 species.

It is the summer plumage which is harder to seperate Green Sand from Wood Sand, as Green shows more spotting on the wings and back and neck in summer plumage - making it look closer to Wood Sand.

However ther are always some differences:

Green Sandpiper is longer, shorter-legged and holds its body more horizontal than Wood Sandpiper which has longer legs and usually stands more upright.

Wood Sandpiper usually shows a supercilium, - as you can see Green Sandpiper usually does not.

In flight Green sandpiper looks black with a a bright white rump and belly. The contrast between the dark wings and the white parts of the plumage is very strong.

Wood Sandpiper does not show the same black/white contrast as Green Sandpiper - it usually looks greyish brown in flight,although beoth species have a white rump it is not so clear on Wood Sandpiper.

Cheers
Mike K

Title: Re: Wood? Green Sandpiper? 白腰草鷸？林鷸？
Post by me_domchan on Apr 18^th, 2005, 5:24pm

Thanks Mike!

I have another question, can we distinguish wood/green sandpiper from the pattern of the white spots on the summer plumage?

Is that the white spot on wood sandpiper are generally larger and more separated, which give an "spotted" impression?

Title: Re: Wood? Green Sandpiper?  白腰草鷸？林鷸？
Post by raycheng on Apr 19^th, 2005, 12:21am

Is this one the wood sandpiper?

http://www.pbase.com/ray526/image/42212272.jpg

Title: Re: Wood? Green Sandpiper? 白腰草鷸？林鷸？
Post by Mike Kilburn on Apr 19^th, 2005, 7:12pm

You are right.

Wood Sandpiper has more spots on the back and wings.

Ray's picture of Wood Sandpiper shows this well.

However if you are not sure it is also useful to check the other features too.

Cheers

Mike K

Title: Re: Wood? Green Sandpiper?  白腰草鷸？林鷸？
Post by kumanfai on Apr 20^th, 2005, 1:08am

Hi, there.

The background of Ray's photo suggests it was in summer when the photo was taken. In summer plumage, the whitish spots alone are difficult to distinguish the green sand from the wood. On the other hand, the white supercilium is not conspicuous in the photo. So is there still a chance of it being a green sand? Please enlighten.

Ku

Title: Re: Wood? Green Sandpiper? 白腰草鷸？林鷸？
Post by Mike Kilburn on Apr 20^th, 2005, 6:25am

Green Sand is basically a dark -backed bird with a few rather small white spots (almost all on the fringe of the feathers of the back). Wood Sand is a lighter brown bird with larger white and black spots on the wings and back. These pictures offers a good comparison of these features.

It also helps to learn the calls of each species and remember the differences when in flight.

These two pictures also show that Wood Sand often looks longer-necked than Green Sand - Green = hunched and horizontal posture, Wood = a more upright long-necked posture.

Hope this helps

Mike K

Title: Re: Wood? Green Sandpiper?  白腰草鷸？林鷸？
Post by raycheng on Apr 20^th, 2005, 9:26am

on 04/20/05 at 06:25:17, Mike Kilburn wrote:

Thanks Mike for the clarification!! :D

Ku, the photo was taken last Sunday.

Title: Re: Wood? Green Sandpiper?  白腰草鷸？林鷸？
Post by kumanfai on Apr 20^th, 2005, 3:14pm

My thanks to Mike for the ID advice, and to Ray and Dominic for the beautiful photos.