The Surfbird (SURF) is about 10” long with a wingspan of 26” and weight of 7 oz. (190 g). The genus name Aphriza (ah-FREE-zah) is from the Greek, aphros, froth, sea foam, meaning “to live in sea foam”.

The Wilson's Snipe (WISN) is about 11".(Its name was changed from Common Snipe, Gallinago gallinago, in 2002.) It is a secretive bird found in peat bogs, marshes, and wet fields.

n spring the Red Knot stands out on tidal flats in its bright chestnut plumage on its face, chest and belly. It has black legs and a black bill that is about as long as the head is wide (Paulson). By late July it will have molted to gray with a white belly and it easily blends in with other shorebirds and the colors of sand and vegetation along shorelines.

The Long-billed Curlew (LBCU) is about 23” with a wingspan of 35” and a weight of 1.3 lb. (590kg). The genus name Numenius (new-MEANihus)is Latin from the Greek noumenios, meaning the new moon:  curve of bill likened to a new crescent moon. The species name americanus is Latin for America. 

The Killdeer (KILL) is 9-11" in length. It is the only North American plover with two neck-rings. Coloring is dark brown above and white below. Its light reddish-brown rump is easily seen in flight or when the bird displays. The downy young have only one neck band.

The genus name Heteroscelus (heh-teh-ROSS-keh-lus) is from the Greek heteros, meaning “other” or “different”, and skelos, for “leg” which alludes to legs of this species being different from other sandpipers. The tarsus is scutellated instead of reticulated at the back. “Scutellated” is when the bare skin of the tarsus is a horny skin cut up into overlapping scales like shingles on a roof.

The genus name Numenius (new-MEAN-ih-us) is Latin from the Greek noumenios, of the new moon; curve of bill is likened to new crescent moon. The species name phaeopus (FEE-oh-pus) is from the Greek phaios, gray, and pous, foot, gray-foot. It was named Whimbrel in England from uttered note which sounded like whim. It is a member of the curlew family.

The species name tricolor (TRY-color) is Latin in reference to the three colors of this bird: white, black, and brown-red. The common name is in honor of Alexander Wilson, an early American ornithologist. 

The Black Oystercatcher (BLOY) is 17-1/2” long.  Its genus Haematopus (he-MAT-oh-pus) is from the Greek haimatopous for blood foot, brightly colored feet.  The species name, bachmani, was given in 1838 by John James Audubon for his friend the Rev. John Bachman.

The species name melanocephala (mel-ah-no-SEFF-ah-lah) is from Greek melas, black, and kephale, head. “Turnstone” denotes the habit of these birds, and ruddy turnstones, of turning over, with its short, stout bill, stones, shells, seaweed and other objects in their search for food.

In the interior of North America the Least Sandpiper is the most common of the “peeps,” the small sandpipers in the genus Calidris. However, on the coast Least Sandpipers often associate with Western and Semipalmated Sandpipers and can be lost in their great numbers. Least Sandpipers generally travel in smaller flocks.

The Pectoral Sandpiper is uncommon in Western Washington but can usually be seen during fall migration. Adults begin passing through Washington in late July and juveniles show up from mid-August to late October. The juveniles will be in new plumage having completed their prejuvenile (or first prebasic) molt, which results in the change from downy feathers to their basic plumage.

The Semipalmated Plover is one of the most common plovers in North America and will attract attention in a flock of shorebirds when it repeatedly runs and stops while foraging for marine worms, crustaceans and small mollusks (Kaufman). It takes a particular stance when stopped.