Sanderling

Identification: A smallish wader but bigger than the typical stints. Shortish thicker straight black bill. Blackish legs and feet and lacks hind toe. Breeding plumage shows rusty tones on upperparts, often with a frosty appearance when fresh. Looks similar to the smaller Red-necked Stints. In non-breeding plumage, distinctive combination of pale grey ear coverts and upperside, and snowy white underside. Juveniles are similar to non-breeding adults but has darker streaks on crown and hindneck, blackish mantle and scapulars, boldly patterned with buffish-white and buff-washed breast with dark streaks on the side. Prominent bold white wing stripe in flight.