Bécasseau à échasses— Quebec wildlife

The stilt sandpiper (Calidris himantopus) is a small shorebird. The scientific name is from Ancient Greek; the genus name kalidris or skalidris is a term used by Aristotle for a gray-colored waterside bird. The specific himantopus means "strap foot" or "thong foot", and also refers to the stilt.

Description

The stilt sandpiper resembles the curlew sandpiper in its long bill, long neck, pale supercilium and white rump. It is readily distinguished from that species by its straighter bill (only slightly curved, not obviously so), its longer and greenish-yellow (not black) legs, and in flight, by the lack of a wingbar. It also lacks an obvious wing bar in flight. Breeding adults are distinctive, heavily barred with blackish bars on a white background beneath, and with reddish-orange patches above and below the white supercilium. The back is brown with darker feather centres. The winter plumage is gray above and white below, and still has a white supercilium. Juveniles resemble the adults in their strong head pattern and brownish back, but they are not barred below, and show white fringes on the back feathering. Measurements: Length: 18–23 cm (7.1–9.1 in) Wingspan: 37–42 cm (15–17 in) Weight: 50–70 g (1.8–2.5 oz)