Killdeer

Order:     Charadriiformes
Family:     Charadriidae

Field Marks:    
Medium-sized with grayish-brown upperparts and white underparts
White collar with two black breastbands
Rump and uppertail coverts rufous
Long wings and tail

Sex:    Monomorphic

Habitat:    
Mudflats, freshwater marshes, agricultural fields, and golf courses

Life History:
Occurs year-round in CA
Loud and vocal
Known for their elaborate broken-wing displays

Mountain Plover (basic)

Order:     Charadriiformes
Family:     Charadriidae

Field Marks:    
Medium-sized with sandy brown upperparts and white underparts
No breastbands
Black bill
In alternate plumage, blackish forecrown and black stripe connects bill to eye

Habitat:     Grasslands and agricultural fields

Life History:   
Most of the population winters in CA and nests in the Great Plains
North American endemic

Conservation:   
CA Species of Special Concern
Likely causes include loss of native grasslands

Mountain Plover (alt)

Order:     Charadriiformes
Family:     Charadriidae

Field Marks:    
Medium-sized with sandy brown upperparts and white underparts
No breastbands
Black bill
In alternate plumage, blackish forecrown and black stripe connects bill to eye

Habitat:     Grasslands and agricultural fields

Life History:   
Most of the population winters in CA and nests in the Great Plains
North American endemic

Conservation:   
CA Species of Special Concern
Likely causes include loss of native grasslands

Black-bellied Plover (alt)

Order:     Charadriiformes
Family:     Charadriidae

Field Marks:    
Gray-brown above with gray-brown breast and white belly
In alternate plumage, underparts black from chin to upper belly blackish with whitish crown and undertail
Relatively large and heavy-bodied, with thick neck and lage head
Short, thick bill tapers evenly to blunt tip
Webbing between middle and outer toes well developed
Short hallux (rarely absent)

Sex:   
Male typically has solid black underparts in alternate plumage
Female typically has mottled underparts in alternate plumage

Habitat:     Coastal beaches and estuaries

Life History:   
Occurs in CA primarily in winter
Has large eyes, adapted to nocturnal foraging
Quick to give alarm calls, and functions as a sentinel for mixed shorebird assemblages worldwide

Black-bellied Plover

Order:     Charadriiformes
Family:     Charadriidae

Field Marks:    
Gray-brown above with gray-brown breast and white belly
In alternate plumage, underparts black from chin to upper belly blackish with whitish crown and undertail
Relatively large and heavy-bodied, with thick neck and lage head
Short, thick bill tapers evenly to blunt tip
Webbing between middle and outer toes well developed
Short hallux (rarely absent)

Sex:   
Male typically has solid black underparts in alternate plumage
Female typically has mottled underparts in alternate plumage

Habitat:     Coastal beaches and estuaries

Life History:   
Occurs in CA primarily in winter
Has large eyes, adapted to nocturnal foraging
Quick to give alarm calls, and functions as a sentinel for mixed shorebird assemblages worldwide

 Black Oystercatcher

Order:     Charadriiformes
Family:     Haematopodidae

Field Marks:    
Large and completely blackish
Long, straight, orange-red bill with yellow tip
Yellow iris with orange-red eye ring
Sturdy pale pink legs

Sex:    Monomorphic

Habitat:     Rocky ocean shorelines

Life History:   
Occurs year-round in CA
Nests just above high-tide line, and forages in intertidal zone

Black-necked Stilt

Order:     Charadriiformes
Family:     Recurvirostridae

Field Marks:    
Tall and slender, with long reddish legs
Blackish upperparts with white underparts
Bill long, black, and slightly recurved

Sex:   
Females have more brownish upperparts
Males have glossier black upperparts

Habitat:     Salt marshes and salt ponds

Life History:   
Occurs year-round in CA

American Avocet (alt)

Order:     Charadriiformes
Family:     Recurvirostridae

Field Marks:    
Large and long-legged
Black and white upperparts with white underparts
Head and neck grayish (basic plumage) or reddish (alternate)
Long, grayish-blue legs
Long, thin, recurved bill

Sex:   
Female has shorter, more strongly recurved bill

Habitat:     Salt ponds, marshes, and mudflats

Life History:   
Occurs year-round in parts of CA
Bill extremely sensitive, and can be used for tactile foraging on inverts

American Avocet (basic)

Order:     Charadriiformes
Family:     Recurvirostridae

Field Marks:    
Large and long-legged
Black and white upperparts with white underparts
Head and neck grayish (basic plumage) or reddish (alternate)
Long, grayish-blue legs
Long, thin, recurved bill

Sex:   
Female has shorter, more strongly recurved bill

Habitat:     Salt ponds, marshes, and mudflats

Life History:   
Occurs year-round in parts of CA
Bill extremely sensitive, and can be used for tactile foraging on inverts

Long-billed Curlew

Order:    Charadriiformes
Family:     Scolopacidae

Field Marks:    
Plumage buffy-cinnamon overall, with upperparts streaked dark brown and crown plain
Cinnamon under wing
Large and long-legged, with very long decurved bill

Sex:    Female tends to be larger with longer bill

Habitat:    
Estuaries, sandy beaches, agricultural fields

Life History:   
Occurs in CA primarily in winter
Largest North American shorebird
Bill is best-adapted for capturing shrimp and crabs in deep burrows

Conservation:   
CA Species of Special Concern
Causes likely include loss of breeding and migration stop-over habitat

Dunlin (alt)

Order:     Charadriiformes
Family:     Scolopacidae

Field Marks:    
Medium-sized with light brownish-gray upperparts and white underparts
In alternate plumage, black belly, rufous cap and upperparts
In flight, white wing bar on dark wing; white wing lining
Long, black, slightly decurved bill
Black legs and feet

Sex:    Monomorphic

Habitat:    
Mudflats, estuaries, bays, marshes, and agricultural fields

Life History:   
Occurs in CA in winter

Dunlin (basic)

Order:     Charadriiformes
Family:     Scolopacidae

Field Marks:    
Medium-sized with light brownish-gray upperparts and white underparts
In alternate plumage, black belly, rufous cap and upperparts
In flight, white wing bar on dark wing; white wing lining
Long, black, slightly decurved bill
Black legs and feet

Sex:    Monomorphic

Habitat:    
Mudflats, estuaries, bays, marshes, and agricultural fields

Life History:   
Occurs in CA in winter

Least Sandpiper (basic)

Order:     Charadriiformes
Family:     Scolopacidae

Field Marks:    
Small with dark brownish-gray upperparts and white underparts
Breast brownish
In alternate plumage, upperparts darker with more rufous
Short, thin, slightly decurved black bill
Legs usually yellowish-green

Sex:    Monomorphic

Habitat:     Mudflats, estuaries, and marshes

Life History:   
Occurs in CA in winter, but winter range extends far into S. America
Smallest shorebird in the world

Least Sandpiper (alt)

Order:     Charadriiformes
Family:     Scolopacidae

Field Marks:    
Small with dark brownish-gray upperparts and white underparts
Breast brownish
In alternate plumage, upperparts darker with more rufous
Short, thin, slightly decurved black bill
Legs usually yellowish-green

Sex:    Monomorphic

Habitat:     Mudflats, estuaries, and marshes

Life History:   
Occurs in CA in winter, but winter range extends far into S. America
Smallest shorebird in the world

Marbled Godwitt Basic Plumage

Order:Charadriiformes

Family:Scolopacidae

Field Marks:

Plumage buffy-cinnamon overall, with upperparts streaked dark brown

In alternate plumage, underparts heavily barred

Cinnamon under wing

Large and long-legged, with long slightly recurved, bicolored bill

Sex:Females larger, with longer bill

Habitat:Mudflats, estuaries, and grasslands

Life History:

Occurs in CA primarily in winter

Sometimes forages almost exclusively on plant tubers during migration

Marbled Godwit Alternate Plumage

Order:Charadriiformes

Family:Scolopacidae

Field Marks:

Plumage buffy-cinnamon overall, with upperparts streaked dark brown

In alternate plumage, underparts heavily barred

Cinnamon under wing

Large and long-legged, with long slightly recurved, bicolored bill

Sex:Females larger, with longer bill

Habitat:Mudflats, estuaries, and grasslands

Life History:

Occurs in CA primarily in winter

Sometimes forages almost exclusively on plant tubers during migration

Ruddy Turnstone Alternate Plumage

Order:Charadriiformes

Family:Scolopacidae

Field Marks:

Small with dark grayish-brown upperparts and white underparts

Rounded, bilobed border between dark breast and white belly

In alternate plumage, upperparts rufous with blackish patches; black and white head, neck, and breast

White patches on back, inner wing, wing stripe, and uppertail

Clean white underwing

Short range legs

Short, black, slightly upturned bill

Sex:Monomorphic

Habitat:Rocky or sandy beaches

Life History:

Occurs in CA in winter

Breeds in the tundra from Alaska to Greenland, and is poorly studied

Semipalmated Plover

Order:     Charadriiformes
Family:     Charadriidae

Field Marks:    
Small, with brown upperparts and white underparts
White collar with single black breastband
White forehead and postocular stripe (may form supercilium in basic plumage)
Gray-brown forecrown and sides of head (black in alternate plumage)
Wings and tail dark, with single white stripe at base of remiges
Short, stubby bill is black with orange to yellow base
Legs dull yellow to orange


Sex:   
Females tend to have brown feathers in breast band and forecrown, and bolder postocular stripe

Habitat:    
Coastal beaches, mudflats, estuaries, lakes and marshes

Life History:   
Occurs primarily in CA in winter

Snowy Plover (alt)

Order:     Charadriiformes
Family:     Charadriidae

Field Marks:    
Small, with pale brown upperparts and white underparts
White collar with partial breastband restricted to lateral patches
Thin, entirely black bill
Legs dark gray to blackish
In alternate plumage, dark auriculars and darker breastband

Sex:    Monomorphic

Habitat:     Sparsely vegetated sandy beaches

Life History:   
Neotropical migrant, nesting in CA

Conservation:   
Federal Threatened species (Western subspecies C. a. nivosus only)
Causes include degradation of beach-front habitat and disturbances at nests

Snowy Plover (basic)

Order:     Charadriiformes
Family:     Charadriidae

Field Marks:    
Small, with pale brown upperparts and white underparts
White collar with partial breastband restricted to lateral patches
Thin, entirely black bill
Legs dark gray to blackish
In alternate plumage, dark auriculars and darker breastband

Sex:    Monomorphic

Habitat:     Sparsely vegetated sandy beaches

Life History:   
Neotropical migrant, nesting in CA

Conservation:   
Federal Threatened species (Western subspecies C. a. nivosus only)
Causes include degradation of beach-front habitat and disturbances at nests

Whimbrel

Order:     Charadriiformes
Family:     Scolopacidae

Field Marks:    
Upperparts dark brown, mottled buff, with brown-streaked underparts
Long, decurved bill
Dark crown with buff median stripe, buff supercilium, and dark eye line
Grayish-brown underwing

Sex:    Monomorphic

Habitat:     Mudflats, estuaries, and marshes

Life History:   
Occurs in CA in winter
Eat primarily marine invertebrates
At least in Panama, bill decurvature matches the burrow curve of Fiddler crabs

Western Sandpiper (basic)

Order:     Charadriiformes
Family:     Scolopacidae

Field Marks:    
Small with pale brownish-gray upperparts and white underparts
Breast whitish
In alternate plumage, bright chestnut scapulars, crown, and auriculars
Long, black, slightly decurved bill
Black legs and feet

Sex:    Monomorphic

Habitat:    Sandy beaches and mudflats

Life History:   
Occurs in CA in winter
One of the most common shorebirds of the western hemisphere
In migration, huge flocks form in staging areas (e.g. SF Bay)

Black Turnstone (basic)

Order:     Charadriiformes
Family:     Scolopacidae

Field Marks:    
Small with dark brownish-black upperparts and white underparts
Straight border between dark breast and white belly
In alternate plumage, upperparts with greenish iridescence; white lore spot; fine white streaks on head and breast
White patches on back, inner wing, wing stripe, and uppertail
Clean white underwing
Short pinkish-brown legs
Short, black, slightly upturned bill

Sex:    Monomorphic

Habitat:     Rocky shorelines

Life History:   
Occurs in CA in winter
Strictly a bird of western North America
Named for habit of flipping over objects to find food

Black Turnstone (alternate)

Order:     Charadriiformes
Family:     Scolopacidae

Field Marks:    
Small with dark brownish-black upperparts and white underparts
Straight border between dark breast and white belly
In alternate plumage, upperparts with greenish iridescence; white lore spot; fine white streaks on head and breast
White patches on back, inner wing, wing stripe, and uppertail
Clean white underwing
Short pinkish-brown legs
Short, black, slightly upturned bill

Sex:    Monomorphic

Habitat:     Rocky shorelines

Life History:   
Occurs in CA in winter
Strictly a bird of western North America
Named for habit of flipping over objects to find food

Long-billed Dowitcher (alt)

Order:    Charadriiformes
Family:     Scolopacidae

Field Marks:    
Medium-sized, with drab gray upperparts and white underparts
Sharp delineation between gray upper breast and white lower breast
Wing tips do not extend past tail
In alternate plumage, upperparts mottled brown, black, and buff; underparts entirely rufous with dark barring tipped white
Short whitish supercilium and dark eye line
Tail barred black and white with white wedge-shaped rump patch
Long, straight, dark bill
Flatter forehead; straighter supercilium

Sex:    Monomorphic

Habitat:     Primarily freshwater marshes

Life History:   
Occurs in CA in winter
Known for its characteristic “sewing machine” motion when feeding
Best separated from Short-billed Dowitcher by voice: “keek”

Long-billed Dowitcher (basic)

Order:    Charadriiformes
Family:     Scolopacidae

Field Marks:    
Medium-sized, with drab gray upperparts and white underparts
Sharp delineation between gray upper breast and white lower breast
Wing tips do not extend past tail
In alternate plumage, upperparts mottled brown, black, and buff; underparts entirely rufous with dark barring tipped white
Short whitish supercilium and dark eye line
Tail barred black and white with white wedge-shaped rump patch
Long, straight, dark bill
Flatter forehead; straighter supercilium

Sex:    Monomorphic

Habitat:     Primarily freshwater marshes

Life History:   
Occurs in CA in winter
Known for its characteristic “sewing machine” motion when feeding
Best separated from Short-billed Dowitcher by voice: “keek”

Short-billed Dowitcher (alt)

Order:     Charadriiformes
Family:     Scolopacidae

Field Marks:    
Medium-sized with drab gray upperparts and white underparts
Gray upper breast and white lower breast not sharply defined
Wing tips project just beyond tip of tail
In alternate plumage, upperparts mottled brown, black, and buff; underparts pale rufous with white belly, and dense spotting
Short whitish supercilium and dark eye line
Tail barred black and white with white wedge-shaped rump patch
Long, straight, dark bill
Steeper forehead; more arched supercilium

Sex:    Monomorphic

Habitat:     Primarily saltwater marshes and mudflats

Life History:   
Occurs in CA in winter
Known for its characteristic “sewing machine” motion when feeding
Best separated from Long-billed Dowitcher by voice: “tu tu tu”

Short-billed Dowitcher

Order:     Charadriiformes
Family:     Scolopacidae

Field Marks:    
Medium-sized with drab gray upperparts and white underparts
Gray upper breast and white lower breast not sharply defined
Wing tips project just beyond tip of tail
In alternate plumage, upperparts mottled brown, black, and buff; underparts pale rufous with white belly, and dense spotting
Short whitish supercilium and dark eye line
Tail barred black and white with white wedge-shaped rump patch
Long, straight, dark bill
Steeper forehead; more arched supercilium

Sex:    Monomorphic

Habitat:     Primarily saltwater marshes and mudflats

Life History:   
Occurs in CA in winter
Known for its characteristic “sewing machine” motion when feeding
Best separated from Long-billed Dowitcher by voice: “tu tu tu”

Greater Yellowlegs (alt)

Order:     Charadriiformes
Family:     Scolopacidae

Field Marks:    
Dark brown upperparts with pale spots, and pale underparts
Slender and long-necked
No wing stripe
Long, bright yellow legs
Dark bill that is much longer than head, and relatively thick at base
In alternate plumage, has heavy dark streaks on head and neck, and barring on flanks and upper belly

Sex:    Monomorphic

Habitat:    
Fresh or saltwater marshes, mudflats, lakes, and agricultural fields

Life History:   
Occurs in CA in winter
Eats a variety of invertebrates and small fish

Lesser Yellowlegs (basic)

Order:     Charadriiformes
Family:     Scolopacidae

Field Marks:    
Upperparts brown with pale spots, and pale underparts
Slender and long-necked
No wing stripe
Long, bright yellow legs
Dark bill that is only slightly longer than head, and thin at base
In alternate plumage, has heavy dark streaks on head and neck, and barring on flanks and upper belly

Sex:    Monomorphic

Habitat:    
Fresh or saltwater marshes, mudflats, lakes, and estuaries

Life History:   
Occurs in CA in winter

Willet (basic)

Order:     Charadriiformes
Family:     Scolopacidae

Field Marks:    
Large size, with gray to brownish-gray upperparts
In alternate plumage, upperparts barred and streaked
Broad white wing stripe on dark wings
Blue-gray legs
Straight bill

Sex:    Monomorphic

Habitat:    
Mudflat, marsh, sandy beaches, rocky shorelines

Life History:   
Occurs primarily in CA in winter
Has been renamed Tringa semipalmata following genetic analysis

Willet (alt)

Order:     Charadriiformes
Family:     Scolopacidae

Field Marks:    
Large size, with gray to brownish-gray upperparts
In alternate plumage, upperparts barred and streaked
Broad white wing stripe on dark wings
Blue-gray legs
Straight bill

Sex:    Monomorphic

Habitat:    
Mudflat, marsh, sandy beaches, rocky shorelines

Life History:   
Occurs primarily in CA in winter
Has been renamed Tringa semipalmata following genetic analysis

Wilson's Snipe

Order:     Charadriiformes
Family:     Scolopacidae

Field Marks:    
Medium-sized with brown, black, and gray, striped and spotted upperparts, forming 4 pale lines down the back
Underparts primarily white, with breast, and flanks streaked brown
Crown striped black and buffy
Long, straight bill
Short orange tail visible in flight

Sex:    Monomorphic

Habitat:     Freshwater marshes and agricultural fields

Life History:   
Occurs year-round in parts of CA, but primarily in winter
Flushes in a rapid zig-zag flight

Wilson's Phalarope (basic)

Order:     Charadriiformes
Family:     Scolopacidae

Field Marks:    
Slender with pale gray upperparts with white face, rump, and underparts
Plain gray wings with no wing stripe
Small-headed with thin, needle-like, dark bill
Long, yellow legs (black in breeding season)

Sex:   
Females in alternate plumage have blue-gray crown, white supercilium, and black stripe through eye and down neck; cinnamon-buff neck; chestnut scapulars
Males in alternate plumage are less brightly plumaged, with white throat and cinnamon-buff nape, but with considerable variability

Habitat:     Marshes and hypersaline lakes

Life History:   
Breeds in CA, and collects in large numbers at several staging grounds for migration to South America, e.g.: Mono Lake, Salton Sea
Polyandrous and has reversed sexual roles, with females performing courtship displays and males providing most care for the young

Wilsons Phalarope (female, alt)

Order:     Charadriiformes
Family:     Scolopacidae

Field Marks:    
Slender with pale gray upperparts with white face, rump, and underparts
Plain gray wings with no wing stripe
Small-headed with thin, needle-like, dark bill
Long, yellow legs (black in breeding season)

Sex:   
Females in alternate plumage have blue-gray crown, white supercilium, and black stripe through eye and down neck; cinnamon-buff neck; chestnut scapulars
Males in alternate plumage are less brightly plumaged, with white throat and cinnamon-buff nape, but with considerable variability

Habitat:     Marshes and hypersaline lakes

Life History:   
Breeds in CA, and collects in large numbers at several staging grounds for migration to South America, e.g.: Mono Lake, Salton Sea
Polyandrous and has reversed sexual roles, with females performing courtship displays and males providing most care for the young

Red-necked Phalarope (basic)

Order:     Charadriiformes
Family:     Scolopacidae

Field Marks:    
Small with gray upperparts and white underparts
Dark wings with white wing stripe
Black eyepatch and rear crown patch
Small-headed with thin, needle-like, dark bill

Sex:   
Females in alternate plumage have dark gray to black head, neck, and breast, white throat and eye spot, and bright chestnut from ear down sides of neck; dark gray upperparts; golden stripes down back
Males in alternate plumage paler overall, with brownish-gray upperparts, and whitish supercilium; may lack red patch

Habitat:     Hypersaline lakes, estuaries, salt marshes

Life History:   
Occurs in CA in winter near San Diego and the Salton Sea
Regularly seen on migration in spring and fall
Polyandrous and has reversed sexual roles, with females performing courtship displays and males providing most care for the young

Red-necked Phalarope (male, alt)

Order:     Charadriiformes
Family:     Scolopacidae

Field Marks:    
Small with gray upperparts and white underparts
Dark wings with white wing stripe
Black eyepatch and rear crown patch
Small-headed with thin, needle-like, dark bill

Sex:   
Females in alternate plumage have dark gray to black head, neck, and breast, white throat and eye spot, and bright chestnut from ear down sides of neck; dark gray upperparts; golden stripes down back
Males in alternate plumage paler overall, with brownish-gray upperparts, and whitish supercilium; may lack red patch

Habitat:     Hypersaline lakes, estuaries, salt marshes

Life History:   
Occurs in CA in winter near San Diego and the Salton Sea
Regularly seen on migration in spring and fall
Polyandrous and has reversed sexual roles, with females performing courtship displays and males providing most care for the young

Red-necked Phalarope (female, alt)

Order:     Charadriiformes
Family:     Scolopacidae

Field Marks:    
Small with gray upperparts and white underparts
Dark wings with white wing stripe
Black eyepatch and rear crown patch
Small-headed with thin, needle-like, dark bill

Sex:   
Females in alternate plumage have dark gray to black head, neck, and breast, white throat and eye spot, and bright chestnut from ear down sides of neck; dark gray upperparts; golden stripes down back
Males in alternate plumage paler overall, with brownish-gray upperparts, and whitish supercilium; may lack red patch

Habitat:     Hypersaline lakes, estuaries, salt marshes

Life History:   
Occurs in CA in winter near San Diego and the Salton Sea
Regularly seen on migration in spring and fall
Polyandrous and has reversed sexual roles, with females performing courtship displays and males providing most care for the young

Sanderling (alt)

Order:     Charadriiformes
Family:     Scolopacidae

Field Marks:    
Small with pale gray upperparts, dark shoulder, and white underparts
Broad white wing stripe bordered with black
In alternate plumage, upperparts reddish to sandy brown with blackish and whitish mottling
Short, straight, and stout black bill
Black legs and feet, with no hallux

Sex:    Monomorphic

Habitat:     Sandy beaches

Life History:   
Occurs in CA in winter, breeding in high Arctic tundra
While foraging, constantly runs ahead of incoming waves or chasing after receding ones

Sanderling (basic)

Order:     Charadriiformes
Family:     Scolopacidae

Field Marks:    
Small with pale gray upperparts, dark shoulder, and white underparts
Broad white wing stripe bordered with black
In alternate plumage, upperparts reddish to sandy brown with blackish and whitish mottling
Short, straight, and stout black bill
Black legs and feet, with no hallux

Sex:    Monomorphic

Habitat:     Sandy beaches

Life History:   
Occurs in CA in winter, breeding in high Arctic tundra
While foraging, constantly runs ahead of incoming waves or chasing after receding ones

Spotted Sandpiper (basic)

Order:     Charadriiformes
Family:     Scolopacidae

Field Marks:    
Grayish-brown upperparts with white underparts
Dark eye line with whitish supercilium
Pale fleshy legs
In alternate plumage, underparts with black spots

Sex:    Monomorphic

Habitat:     Found in a wide variety of aquatic habitats

Life History:   
Occurs year-round in parts of CA
Very broad breeding range, due to generalist habits
Polyandrous, and have reversed sex roles: females more active in courtship, and males provide more parental care

Wandering Tattler (basic)

Order:     Charadriiformes
Family:     Scolopacidae

Field Marks:    
Plain gray upperparts
Narrow white supercilia almost join on forehead
Dark eye line
In alternate plumage, underparts heavily barred
Short, thick, yellow legs
Straight, medium-length bill

Sex:    Monomorphic

Habitat:     Rocky shorelines

Life History:   
Occurs primarily in CA in winter
Has been renamed Tringa incaca following genetic analysis

Wandering Tattler (alt)

Order:     Charadriiformes
Family:     Scolopacidae

Field Marks:    
Plain gray upperparts
Narrow white supercilia almost join on forehead
Dark eye line
In alternate plumage, underparts heavily barred
Short, thick, yellow legs
Straight, medium-length bill

Sex:    Monomorphic

Habitat:     Rocky shorelines

Life History:   
Occurs primarily in CA in winter
Has been renamed Tringa incaca following genetic analysis

Surfbird (alt)

Order:     Charadriiformes
Family:     Scolopacidae

Field Marks:    
Upperparts, head, and breast gray with whitish underparts
In alternate plumage, upperparts blackish with rufous on scapulars and underparts heavily streaked and spotted
Short, straight bill with yellowish base
Short, yellow legs

Sex:    Monomorphic

Habitat:     Rocky shorelines

Life History:   
Occurs in CA in winter
Long, narrow winter range extends from Alaska to Chile, and is confined to rocky shoreline and intertidal zone

Surfbird (basic)

Order:     Charadriiformes
Family:     Scolopacidae

Field Marks:    
Upperparts, head, and breast gray with whitish underparts
In alternate plumage, upperparts blackish with rufous on scapulars and underparts heavily streaked and spotted
Short, straight bill with yellowish base
Short, yellow legs

Sex:    Monomorphic

Habitat:     Rocky shorelines

Life History:   
Occurs in CA in winter
Long, narrow winter range extends from Alaska to Chile, and is confined to rocky shoreline and intertidal zone