Eastern Willet, Tringa s. semipalmata (synonym; Catoptrophorus semipalmatus, formerly; Symphemia semipalmata, protonym; Scolopax semipalmata), also known as the semipalmated tattler or simply as the willet, photographed at Bolivar Peninsula, Texas, USA.
Image: Joseph Kennedy, 1 April 2011 [velociraptorize].
Nikon D200, Kowa 883 telescope with TSN-PZ camera eyepiece 1/640s f/8.0 at 1000.0mm iso400
Question: This North American migrant is challenging to identify, but there is one obvious field mark visible in this image. Can you identify the species and tell me what field mark helped you make your identification?
Response: This is an adult eastern willet, Tringa s. semipalmata, which has just arrived on its breeding grounds. This bird is currently classified as a sister subspecies along with the western willet, T. s. inornatus. However, due to differences in size, physical proportions, plumage colour, voice, range and ecology, the eastern and western willets are likely to be elevated to separate species status in the future. Even though these two sister (sub)species are challenging to distinguish in the field, the pink at the base of the bill distinguishes eastern and western birds (in this image). (You should know that the pink base is not always present on eastern willets.)
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