The smallest Ocean Front Birds |
found on the beach at Coal Oil PointClick on the small pictures to enlarge them |
Least Sandpipers |
Sanderlings |
Semipalmated Plovers |
Snowy Plovers |
Least Sandpipers are about 6 inches overall, and are found high in the debris zone near weedy vegetation. They rarely go wading.
Sanderlings are larger, about 8 inches in size, and are very active. They seem to roll up and down the beach like balls as the waves come and go. The ones shown are in non-breeding plumage. They become browner during the breeding season.
Semipalmated Plovers look much like Snowy Plovers, but are distinguished by being browner, and by having a complete dark breast band. Notice their yellowish legs as well.
Snowy Plovers are smaller, at about 6 inches. They sometimes run down to the wet sand and water, but mostly nestle down in the dry sand high on the beach. Very well camouflaged, they look like small rocks until they move.
Go to: Ocean Front birds: Small, Medium, Large, Very large.
Ducks and Geese, Mud-flat birds, Herons, Miscellaneous lagoon birds, Field birds,