The White-rumped Sandpiper (Pisobia fuscicollis), which resembles the Pectoral Sandpiper but has a distinctly white rump, is a rare migrant, noted chiefly at Erie and in the Pymatuning Swamp region. The Baird’s Sandpiper (Pisobia bairdi) is rare, save at Erie, where it is a fairly regular and common fall migrant from late August to the end of September.
LEAST SANDPIPER
Pisobia minutilla (Vieillot)
Other Names.—Meadow Peep; Oxeye.
Description.—About as large as an English Sparrow. Adults in spring: Upperparts black, margined and tipped with buffy and reddish brown; rump and upper tail-coverts black; middle tail-feathers black, outer ones ashy gray; throat, superciliary, and narrow ring about eye, white; neck and breast buffy, streaked with dark brown; rest of underparts white, the sides with narrow streaks of dusky; bill blackish; feet dull green. Adults and young in winter: Upperparts brownish gray; breast pale brownish gray or grayish, indistinctly streaked. Length: 6 inches.
Range in Pennsylvania.—The Least Sandpiper occurs with some regularity both in spring and fall throughout the Commonwealth. It may be found at almost any wayside puddle or along the margins of streams from early May until about the end of the month and from mid-August to early October, and is particularly common at Erie.
Least Sandpiper
The Least Sandpiper is noticeably smaller than the common Spotted Sandpiper and does not have that species’ habit of “tipping up” its tail. It is, however, very similar in general appearance to the Semipalmated Sandpiper, which may occur at the same time, but differs in having green feet, and (if the bird be in the hand) in having no partial webs between the toes.
RED-BACKED SANDPIPER
Pelidna alpina pacifica Coues
Description.—About the size of a Spotted Sandpiper; bill slightly curved at tip. Adults in spring: Back and scapulars bright reddish brown, the feathers with dark centers; breast white, finely streaked with dark brown; large black patch on middle of belly; lower belly white. Adults and young in winter: Upperparts gray, wing-coverts gray, edged with buffy; underparts white, the breast grayish, the sides sometimes somewhat streaked. Length: 8 inches.
Range in Pennsylvania.—A migrant, rare in spring, fairly common in fall, especially at Erie, where it has been noted from mid-August to late October.
Red-backed Sandpiper