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To the Beauty of Birds

The Solitary Sandpiper Tringa solitaria is a small wader (shorebird).

This species measures 7.1–9.1 in long, with a wingspan up to 20 in and a body mass of 1.1–2.3 oz. It is a dumpy wader with a dark green back, greyish head and breast and otherwise white underparts. It is obvious in flight, with wings dark above and below, and a dark rump and tail centre. The latter feature distinguishes it from the slightly larger and broader-winged, but otherwise very similar, green sandpiper of Europe and Asia, to which it is closely related. The latter species has a brilliant white rump. In flight, the solitary sandpiper has a characteristic three-note whistle. They both have brown wings with little light dots, and a delicate but contrasting neck and chest pattern. In addition, both species nest in trees, unlike most other sandpipers.

These photos were taken on Tobago.

Solitary Sandpiper

Solitary Sandpiper-203

Solitary Sandpiper-265

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