Photo and Commentary ©2025 by Robert Howson
Tuesday, February 25, 2025
Those who consider all small brown birds to be sparrows are likely cut from the same cloth as those who believe all small brown shorebirds are the same species. And in truth, it’s not an unreasonable assumption since many of those “peeps” do look an awful lot alike. But if you look closer, differences will become apparent. But then those differences become confusing since each species’ appearance can change dramatically depending upon the age, sex, time of year, and feather ware. It is tempting to go back to believing that since there are so many differences, they must all be the same. Such convoluted thinking is certainly irrational, but it can be attractive, nevertheless.
One of those look-alike subjects is the Semipalmated Sandpiper, a common species in the East, but seen much less frequently in the West. Many reports of it being seen along our West Coast shores are likely created by wishful thinking, but there are enough reliable reports so as to confirm its presence. This one was taken in Nome, Alaska where they breed, so confusion is kept to a minimum. The bird it would most likely be confused with is the Western Sandpiper, the only two small peeps in North America to have partial webbing between their toes, hence the name Semipalmated. However, the Western’s bill is longer and tends to droop at the end. The problem with that is there are differences in individual birds so one field mark isn’t adequate for clear identification.
During migration, flocks of 350,000 Semipalmated Sandpipers may congregate in a single area. Some believe it is the most abundant shorebird in North America. While they may be abundant farther east, those of us interested in finding one must sift carefully through many look-alikes to find one that is the genuine article. The Apostle Paul uses this same language to encourage us to use due diligence in how we conduct our lives. “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise…” (Ephesians 5:15 NIV) Good advice for a walk on the beach, as well as our daily walk.