Copyright: monacoeye • Guapi Assu, Sep 2011 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Giant Snipe
Latin: Gallinago undulata
Other: Narcejão (Br) • Caica gigante, becasina gigante (Es)
Family: Scolopacidae • Waders, Snipes
Range: South America - Colombia, Venezuela, Brazil etc
Similar: South American Snipe

Birdwatching often transports you to extraordinary situations - my encounter with the Giant Snipe was one such event.

The Giant Snipe is a difficult bird to see during the day - it’s shy and hides in long grasses and channels. So three of us set off from Regua, in the northern part of Rio de Janeiro state, a little before dusk, with flashlights and ipod, to a certain field where the Giant Snipe was known to live…

The Giant Snipe is a large bird with a very long bill, and rich brown stripes on its back, distinguishing it from the South American Snipe. I understand there are separate populations, two of the nominate subspecies centred in northern South America, and another in the southeast of Brazil of Gallinago undulata gigantea seen here.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Pantanal, Aug 2011 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Solitary Sandpiper
Latin: Tringa solitaria
Other: Maçarico-solitário (Br) • Andarríos solitario, pitotoy solitario, tigüiza (Es)
Family: Scolopacidae • Waders, Sandpipers
Range: North America migrating to South America - Brazil etc
Similar: Spotted Sandpiper

The Solitary Sandpiper has uniform brown wings (no bars) in flight, differentiating it from the Spotted Sandpiper. Spots on back and mottled around neck.

This Solitary Sandpiper was seen near Curicaca Lodge in the Pantanal.More photos...

Copyright: DK/monacoeye • Chile • April 2011 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Baird's Sandpiper
Latin: Calidris bairdii
Other: Playero de Baird (Es)
Family: Scolopacidae • Waders, Sandpipers
Range: Americas
Similar:

Nice shot of a Baird’s Sandpiper in the Salar de Atacama, Chile, sent in by Dirk.

Copyright: AW/monacoeye • Madeira, October 2010 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Ruddy Turnstone
Latin: Arenaria interpres
Other: Turnstone • Rola-do-mar, vira-pedras (Pt) • Tournepierre à collier (Fr) • Steinwälzer (De) • Vuelvepiedras común (Es)
Family: Scolopacidae • Waders, Sandpipers
Range: Breeds near northern coastlines, eg Scandinavia, Iceland, Alaska, migrating southwards worldwide eg Washington, Massachussets, Brazil, China, Japan

Many thanks to Alexia for sending in these photos of Turnstones. Above in non-breeding plumage, in Madeira, October. Directly below, coming into breeding plumage in Iceland, April.

The Turnstone is identifiable by orange legs and dark chest pattern and its behaviour of flipping over stones when looking for insects or crustaceans.

Directly below, Ruddy Turnstone in Iceland, April, breeding plumage
More photos...

Copyright: AW/monacoeye • Do not copy • Iceland • May 2011

Bird name: Common Redshank
Latin: Tringa totanus
Other: Redshank (UK) • Chevalier gambette (Fr) • Rotschenkel (De) • Archibebe común (Es) • Pettegola (It) • Tureluur (Nl) • Rödbena (Sv) • Cacongo (Pt)
Family: Scolopacidae • Waders

Range: West and Central Eurasia to SW Europe, Africa, Asia
Similar:

The Common Redshank is readily identifiable by its red legs and bill base. Appears to step on the water while feeding.

A wonderful shot from Iceland above, and below on the Cote d’Azur in May.More photos...

Copyright: AW/monacoeye • Iceland, May 2011 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Black-tailed Godwit
Latin: Limosa limosa
Other: Barge à queue noire (Fr) • aguja colinegra (Es) • pittima reale (It) • Grutto (Nl) • Rödspov (Sv) • Maçarico-de-bico-direito (Pt)
Family: Scolopacidae • Waders, Godwits
Range: Widespread Eurasia - Africa, Asia, Australasia, Iceland
Similar: Bar-tailed Godwit
Status: Near-threatened (IUCN 3.1)

A gorgeous photo of a Black-tailed Godwit in Iceland sent in by Alexia.

Copyright: AW/monacoeye • Iceland, May 2011 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Red Knot
Latin: Calidris canutus
Other: Knot (UK) • Bécasseau maubèche (Fr) • Knutt (De) • Correlimos gordo (Es) • Piovanello maggiore (It) • Kanoet (Nl) • Kustsnäppa (Sv) • Seixoeira (Pt)
Family: Scolopacidae • Sandpipers
Range: N North America, Eurasia - South America, Europe, Africa, Australasia
Similar:

A group of knot in Iceland, presumably Calidris canutus islandica, the local subspecies. This plumage looks midway between grey winter plumage and the bright red chest of summer breeding plumage.More photos...

Copyright: AW/monacoeye • Iceland, May 2011 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Common Snipe
Latin: Gallinago gallinago
Other: Bécassine des marais (Fr) • Bekassine (De) • Agachadiza común (Es) • Beccaccino (It) • Watersnip (Nl) • Enkelbeckasin (Sv) • Narceja-comum (Pt)
Family: Scolopacidae • Waders, Snipes
Range: Widespread Eurasia - S Europe, Africa, Asia, Iceland
Similar: Wilson’s Snipe

The Common Snipe was photographed in Iceland, so presumably subspecies Gallinago gallinago faeroeensis.

Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Camargue, France, Dec 2008

Bird name: Common Sandpiper
Latin: Actitis hypoleucos
Other: Andarríos chico (Es) • Chevalier guignette (Fr) • Piro piro piccolo (it) • Flussuferläufer (De) • Maçarico-das-rochas (Pt)
Family: Scolopacidae • Waders, Sandpipers
Range: Breeding widespread Eurasia - migrates to Africa, Asia, Australasia, also Middle East

I really need some better photos of the Common Sandpiper!

Copyright: AS/monacoeye • Tanzania Oct 2009 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Ruff
Latin: Philomachus pugnax
Other: Combatente (Pt) • Combattant varié (Fr) • Kampfläufer (De) • Combatiente (Es) • Combattente (It)
Family: Scolopacidae • Sandpipers
Range: Breeds in Eurasia, winters S&W Europe, Africa, S Asia, Australia

I believe these are Ruff. Above in Tanzania, October, below (in more photos) in Danube Delta, May. The male in breeding plumage (not pictured here) is quite spectacular.

Orange legs protrude past tail in flight.More photos...

Copyright: AT/monacoeye • Point Reyes, December • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Marbled Godwit
Latin: Limosa fedoa
Other: Picopando canelo (Es)
Family: Scolopacidae • Waders
Range: Canada, migrating south to USA, Mexico, South America

The Marbled Godwit is a large wader with long pinkish bill with black tip. Seen here in California.

Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Chagres River, Panama, May 2010

Bird name: Spotted Sandpiper
Latin: Actitis macularius
Other: Maçarico-maculado (Pt) • Maçarico-pintado (Br) • Playero manchado (Es), andarríos maculado
Family: Scolopacidae • Sandpipers
Range: North, Central and South America

The Spotted Sandpiper in breeding plumage seen here has attractive black spots on a white belly and brown upperside. Yellowish legs , orange bill with black tip. Seen by rivers in central and western Panama in May.
More photos...

Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Costa del Este, Panama, 9 May 2010

Bird name: Willet
Latin: Tringa semipalmata
Other: Maçarico-de-asa-branca (Br)
Family: Scolopacidae • Waders
Range: North, Central, South America

Willets seen on the Costa del Este beach in Panama City near the airport.

Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Panama City, Panama, 9 May 2010

Bird name: Whimbrel
Latin: Numenius phaeopus
Other: Maçarico-galego (Br) • Zarapito trinador (Es)
Family: Scolopacidae • Curlews
Range: Worldwide

A single Whimbrel seen on the Pacific coast of Panama City. The Whimbrel is a large wader, with long curved bill. They breed in the sub-Arctic and migrate to southern coastlines, worldwide.More photos...

Photo copyright: AS/monacoeye • Do not copy • Images: Amboseli • Oct 2009

Bird name: Greenshank
Latin: Tringa nebularia
Other:
Family: Scolopacidae • Waders

A presumed Greenshank in Amboseli National Park.More photos...

Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Images: Mostardas, RS • November 2009

Bird name: Lesser Yellowlegs
Latin: Tringa flavipes
Other: Maçarica-de-perna-amarela (Br)
Family: Scolopacidae • Waders

The Lesser Yellowlegs breeds in the boreal forest between Alaska and Quebec and migrates to South America in the northern winter. It can be found throughout Brazil during this time.

Quite a tall bird, it’s a bit slimmer than the similar looking Greater Yellowlegs. The Lesser Yellowlegs also has a proportionately smaller bill. In flight its white rump can be seen, which gets darker at the tip. Its feet protrude past the tail in flight too.More photos...

Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Images: Mostardas, RS • November 2009

Bird name: Pectoral Sandpiper
Latin: Calidris melanotos
Other: Maçarico-de-colete (Br) • Pilrito-peitoral • Pilrito-de-colete• Playerito pectoral (Es)
Family: Scolopacidae • Waders

The Pectoral Sandpiper is an Arctic migrant. It has a strongly demarcated line across its chest, hence its name. Its bill curves downwards slightly and is light brown at the base. It has yellowish legs and a weak supercilium. It is a small wader but large for a Calidris.More photos...

Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Images: Mostardas, RS • November 2009

Bird name: White Rumped Sandpiper
Latin: Calidris fuscicollis
Other: Erolia fuscicollis • Maçarico-de-sobre-branco (Br) • Pilrito-de-uropígio-branco
Family: Scolopacidae • Waders

The White-rumped Sandpiper is another long distance migrant. Groups were seen feeding on the beach near Lagoa do Peixe in November. Below, you can see White-rumped Sandpipers are about the same size as Semipalmated Plovers.

The white rump is diagnostic in flight (see below). Otherwise a long wing projection, dark legs and white supercilium are other features. I’ve included a few different birds showing colour variations, at the same time of the year.

More photos...

Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Images: Mostardas, RS • November 2009

Bird name: Sanderling
Latin: Calidris alba
Other: Bécasseau Sanderling (Fr) • Maçarico-branco (Br) • Correlimos tridáctilo (Es) • Playerito blanco
Family: Scolopacidae • Waders

Another long distance migrant, the Sanderling breeds in the Arctic Circle and then heads to southern Europe, South America, Africa and Australia during the Arctic winter. I’ve seen one in Nice, in May, presumably migrating north.

These photos were taken in Mostardas in southern Brazil in November. The Sanderling in non-breeding plumage has tones of light grey, with a dark shoulder and a wide white wing bar, which is visible in flight. The head is light, and chest and belly white. Breeding plumage is different … darker and more rufous.

Sanderlings feed on the beach just beyond the breaking wave, running back and forth as the water advances and recedes.More photos...

Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Images: Mostardas, RS • November 2009

Bird name: Buff Breasted Sandpiper
Latin: Tryngites subruficollis
Other: Maçarico-acanelado (Br) • Correlimos Canelo (Es)
Family: Scolopacidae • Waders

The Buff-breasted Sandpiper is a long-distance migrant, breeding in the Arctic tundra, and “wintering” (spending the southern hemisphere summer) in southern South America. In Brazil, Rio Grande do Sul is the best place to see it.

Not really sure what the key diagnostic features are (I asked someone to ID these) other than yellow legs and dark bill, but bill length and colour are sure to play a part.More photos...

Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Images: Mostardas, Brazil • November 2009

Bird name: South American Snipe
Latin: Gallinago paraguaiae
Other: Magellan Snipe • Narceja-sul-americana (Br) • Narceja
Family: Scolopacidae • Snipes

The South American Snipe can be distinguished from the Giant Snipe by its yellowish legs. In addition the Giant Snipe has a flatter forehead.

This individual was in grass near a lake. He was not easy to photograph, remaining upright and visible for a couple of seconds after moving, before ducking down and disappearing completely from view, despite being a medium-sized bird. Fortunately he did this twice giving me an opportunity to take a photo on the second occasion.

The South American Snipe is found in most of South America, away from the Pacific coast.More photos...

Photos: monacoeye • Hyeres • May 2009

Bird name: Eurasian Curlew
Latin: Numenius arquata
Other: Courlis cendré (Fr)
Family: Scolopacidae • Curlews
Range: Europe, Asia, Africa

The Eurasian Curlew is a large bird and dwarfing nearby waders. Seen here in Hyeres, France, in May.More photos...

Bird name: Dunlin & Little Stint
Latin: Calidris alpina & Calidris minuta
Other: Bécasseau Variable & Bécasseau Minute
Family: Scolopacidae
Tags: Waders

Photo: monacoeye • Camargue • January 2009

A mixed bag of Dunlin and Little Stint, I am reliably informed …More photos...

064 Scolopacidae - Sandpipers, Snipes - IOC 2.5 - 2010

Scolopax rusticola - Eurasian Woodcock - Widespread Eurasia - Asia, N Africa
Scolopax mira - Amami Woodcock - Ryukyu Islands
Scolopax saturata - Javan Woodcock - Sumatra, Java
Scolopax rosenbergii - New Guinea Woodcock - New Guinea
Scolopax bukidnonensis - Bukidnon Woodcock - Philippines
Scolopax celebensis - Sulawesi Woodcock - Sulawesi
Scolopax rochussenii - Moluccan Woodcock - Moluccas
Scolopax minor - American Woodcock - E, SE North America

Coenocorypha pusilla - Chatham Snipe - Chatham Islands
Coenocorypha iredalei - South Island Snipe - Small islands of Stewart Is., NZ Australasia - Split from C. aucklandica; recently extinct
Coenocorypha huegeli - Snares Snipe - Snares Is., NZ Australasia - Split from C. aucklandica
Coenocorypha aucklandica - Subantarctic Snipe - Antipodes Is., Auckland Is. NZ Australasia - New name

Lymnocryptes minimus - Jack Snipe - C, W Eurasia - Asia, Africa

Gallinago solitaria - Solitary Snipe - C, E Eurasia - N Asia
Gallinago hardwickii - Latham's Snipe - E Eurasia - E Australia
Gallinago nemoricola - Wood Snipe - S Himalayas to E India & N Vietnam
Gallinago stenura - Pin-tailed Snipe - NE Eurasia - Asia
Gallinago megala - Swinhoe's Snipe - C Eurasia - Asia, Australasia
Gallinago nigripennis - African Snipe - E, SC, S Africa
Gallinago macrodactyla - Madagascar Snipe - Madagascar
Gallinago media - Great Snipe - NW Eurasia - Africa
Gallinago gallinago - Common Snipe - Widespread Eurasia - S Europe, Africa, Asia
Gallinago delicata - Wilson's Snipe - Widespread North America, Latin America to NW South America
Gallinago paraguaiae - South American Snipe - Widespread South America
Gallinago andina - Puna Snipe - Peru to NW Argentina
Gallinago nobilis - Noble Snipe - Venezuela, Colombia
Gallinago undulata - Giant Snipe - N, SE South America
Gallinago stricklandii - Fuegian Snipe - extreme S South America
Gallinago jamesoni - Andean Snipe - Venezuela to Bolivia
Gallinago imperialis - Imperial Snipe - Colombia, Peru

Limnodromus griseus - Short-billed Dowitcher - N North America - S South America, Latin America
Limnodromus scolopaceus - Long-billed Dowitcher - NE, Eurasia, also Alaska - S South America, Central America
Limnodromus semipalmatus - Asian Dowitcher - C Eurasia - Asia, Australasia

Limosa limosa - Black-tailed Godwit - Widespread Eurasia - Africa, Asia, Australasia
Limosa haemastica - Hudsonian Godwit - N North America - Southern Cone
Limosa lapponica - Bar-tailed Godwit - N, Eurasia, also Alaska - Africa, Asia, Australasia
Limosa fedoa - Marbled Godwit - C North America - S South America, Central America

Numenius minutus - Little Curlew - NE Eurasia - Australasia
Numenius borealis - Eskimo Curlew - NC North America - SE South America
Numenius phaeopus - Whimbrel - N North America, Eurasia - widespread
Numenius tahitiensis - Bristle-thighed Curlew - Alaska - C, S Pacific Islands
Numenius tenuirostris - Slender-billed Curlew - C Eurasia - N Africa
Numenius arquata - Eurasian Curlew - C, W Eurasia - Africa, Asia
Numenius madagascariensis - Eastern Curlew - NE Eurasia - Australasia
Numenius americanus - Long-billed Curlew - W, WC North America - S South America through Central America

Bartramia longicauda - Upland Sandpiper - EC, C, NW North America - SE South America

Tringa erythropus - Spotted Redshank - N Eurasia - SW EU, Africa, Asia
Tringa totanus - Common Redshank - W, C Eurasia - SW EU, Africa, Asia
Tringa stagnatilis - Marsh Sandpiper - C Eurasia - Africa, Asia, Australasia
Tringa nebularia - Common Greenshank - Widespread Eurasia - SW EU, Africa, Asia, Australasia
Tringa guttifer - Nordmann's Greenshank - E Eurasia - Asia
Tringa melanoleuca - Greater Yellowlegs - N North America - S South America, Latin America
Tringa flavipes - Lesser Yellowlegs - N North America - S South America, Latin America
Tringa ochropus - Green Sandpiper - Widespread Eurasia - SW EU, Africa, Asia
Tringa solitaria - Solitary Sandpiper - N North America - Latin America, also Caribbean
Tringa glareola - Wood Sandpiper - Widespread Eurasia - Africa, Asia, Australasia
Tringa brevipes - Grey-tailed Tattler - NE, NC Eurasia - Malay Peninsula through Australasia - Was Heteroscelus
Tringa incana - Wandering Tattler - NW North America - W South America, S Pacific islands
Tringa semipalmata - Willet - E, C, SE North America - SW North America, Latin America - Was Catoptrophorus

Xenus cinereus - Terek Sandpiper - Widespread Eurasia - Africa, Asia, Australasia, also Middle East

Actitis hypoleucos - Common Sandpiper - Widespread Eurasia - Africa, Asia, Australasia, also Middle East
Actitis macularius - Spotted Sandpiper - Widespread North America - S South America through Latin America

Aechmorhynchus parvirostris - Tuamotu Sandpiper - Tuamotu Archipelago

Prosobonia leucoptera - Tahiti Sandpiper - Society Islands

Arenaria interpres - Ruddy Turnstone - N North America, Eurasia - Worldwide
Arenaria melanocephala - Black Turnstone - NW North America - W North America coast

Aphriza virgata - Surfbird - NW North America - W North America , Latin America coasts

Calidris tenuirostris - Great Knot - NE Eurasia - Asia, Australasia
Calidris canutus - Red Knot - N North America, Eurasia - South America, Europe, Africa, Australasia
Calidris alba - Sanderling - N North America, Eurasia - Worldwide
Calidris pusilla - Semipalmated Sandpiper - N North America - Latin America, Caribbean
Calidris mauri - Western Sandpiper - N North America - North America, Central America, N South America
Calidris ruficollis - Red-necked Stint - NE Eurasia - Asia, Australasia
Calidris minuta - Little Stint - N Eurasia - E EU, Africa, India
Calidris temminckii - Temminck's Stint - N Eurasia - Africa, Asia, Middle East
Calidris subminuta - Long-toed Stint - C, NE Eurasia - Asia, Australasia
Calidris minutilla - Least Sandpiper - N North America - S South America, Latin America
Calidris fuscicollis - White-rumped Sandpiper - N North America - Southern Cone
Calidris bairdii - Baird's Sandpiper - N North America - W, S South America
Calidris melanotos - Pectoral Sandpiper - N North America, Eurasia - Australasia, Southern Cone
Calidris acuminata - Sharp-tailed Sandpiper - NE Eurasia - Australasia
Calidris ferruginea - Curlew Sandpiper - N Eurasia - Africa, Asia, Australasia, also Middle East
Calidris maritima - Purple Sandpiper - N North America, Eurasia - E North America, W Europe
Calidris ptilocnemis - Rock Sandpiper - Eurasia, North America - W North America coast
Calidris alpina - Dunlin - N North America, Eurasia - S North America, Africa, S EU
Calidris himantopus - Stilt Sandpiper - N North America - SC South America

Eurynorhynchus pygmeus - Spoon-billed Sandpiper - NE Eurasia - Asia

Limicola falcinellus - Broad-billed Sandpiper - N Eurasia - Africa, Asia, Australasia, also Middle East

Tryngites subruficollis - Buff-breasted Sandpiper - N, North America, also NE Europe - SE South America

Philomachus pugnax - Ruff - N Eurasia - Africa, SW EU, India

Phalaropus tricolor - Wilson's Phalarope - C North America - S South America
Phalaropus lobatus - Red-necked Phalarope - N North America, Eurasia - W, E Pacific, N Indian Ocean
Phalaropus fulicarius - Red Phalarope - N North America, Eurasia - SE Pacific, SE Atlantic