White-rumped Sandpiper (Calidris fuscicollis), Willcox Big Pond, Cochise County

Dave and Nancy Pearson and Rob and Rita Colwell found and photographed this breeding plumaged White-rumped Sandpiper along the south shore of the main lake at Willcox on 20 May 2008. There are only about ten prior records of White-rumped Sandpiper for the state, all coming from mid-May to late June, with most of the records coming from Willcox.

Note the tapering bill, breast pattern and wings extending beyond the tail.

White-rumped Sandpiper is an ABC Review Species.  Documentation requested. 

Submitting photos to AZFO does not constitute reporting a rare bird for consideration as an official record. To ensure that a record becomes official, details or photos of Sketch Details Species should be sent to the Editors of North American Birds and a full report of Review Species should be submitted to the Arizona Bird Committee. Most rare birds are under _documented and subsequent observers of a rarity are always encouraged to submit reports and additional photos, especially for birds that are challenging to identify.

20 May 2008, photos by Rob and Rita Colwell