The eBirdr field guide

Bird Advisor

Describe what you saw. We’ll narrow the field together.

Question 12 10 possible birds

What SHAPE was the BILL ?

Choose the answer that comes closest to what you observed.

Straight and slender Straight and thick Conical and slender Conical and thick Hooked Downcurved Upcurved Flattened Crossed at the tips Unknown

Not completely sure? Choose Unknown when it is available—a careful “I don’t know” is more useful than a guess.

Your observation 11 answers recorded · open to review or change
  1. 1
    What TYPE of bird was seen ? Sandpiper-like
    Change
  2. 2
    What colour was the BELLY ? Unknown
    Change
  3. 3
    How BIG was the bird ? Sparrow-sized
    Change
  4. 4
    What colour was the THROAT ? Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown)
    Change
  5. 5
    What colour were the LEGS or FEET ? Unknown
    Change
  6. 6
    What colour was the BILL ? Black, purple, or dark
    Change
  7. 7
    What colour was the BREAST ? Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan
    Change
  8. 8
    What LENGTH was the BILL ? Medium
    Change
  9. 9
    What colour PATTERN if any was on the BACK ? Streaked, mottled, spotted, or barred
    Change
  10. 10
    What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ? Barred crosswise (from side to side)
    Change
  11. 11
    Was the RUMP or LOWER BACK light ? No
    Change

Leading possibilities

10 possibilities remain

1 rule inferred
  1. 1

    Solitary Sandpiper

    Why this matches 8 supporting observations
    • What TYPE of bird was seen ? Sandpiper-like
    • How BIG was the bird ? Sparrow-sized
    • What colour was the THROAT ? Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown)
    • What colour was the BREAST ? Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan
    • What LENGTH was the BILL ? Medium
    • What colour PATTERN if any was on the BACK ? Streaked, mottled, spotted, or barred
    • What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ? Barred crosswise (from side to side)
    • Was the RUMP or LOWER BACK light ? No
    View profile
  2. 2

    Baird's Sandpiper

    Why this matches 7 supporting observations
    • What TYPE of bird was seen ? Sandpiper-like
    • How BIG was the bird ? Sparrow-sized
    • What colour was the BILL ? Black, purple, or dark
    • What colour was the BREAST ? Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan
    • What LENGTH was the BILL ? Medium
    • What colour PATTERN if any was on the BACK ? Streaked, mottled, spotted, or barred
    • Was the RUMP or LOWER BACK light ? No
    View profile
  3. 3

    Spotted Sandpiper

    Why this matches 6 supporting observations
    • What TYPE of bird was seen ? Sandpiper-like
    • How BIG was the bird ? Sparrow-sized
    • What colour was the THROAT ? Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown)
    • What colour was the BREAST ? Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan
    • What LENGTH was the BILL ? Medium
    • What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ? Barred crosswise (from side to side)
    View profile
  4. 4

    Least Sandpiper

    Why this matches 6 supporting observations
    • What TYPE of bird was seen ? Sandpiper-like
    • How BIG was the bird ? Sparrow-sized
    • What colour was the BILL ? Black, purple, or dark
    • What colour was the BREAST ? Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan
    • What LENGTH was the BILL ? Medium
    • What colour PATTERN if any was on the BACK ? Streaked, mottled, spotted, or barred
    View profile
  5. 5

    Red-necked Stint

    Why this matches 6 supporting observations
    • What TYPE of bird was seen ? Sandpiper-like
    • How BIG was the bird ? Sparrow-sized
    • What colour was the THROAT ? Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown)
    • What colour was the BILL ? Black, purple, or dark
    • What colour was the BREAST ? Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan
    • What LENGTH was the BILL ? Medium
    View profile

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