Birds of America
By John James Audubon, F. R. SS. L. & E.
VOLUME V.
GENUS I.--TRINGA, Linn. SANDPIPER.
Bill little longer than the head, slender, straight, compressed, tapering,
with the tip a little enlarged and blunt; upper mandible with the dorsal line
straight and slightly declinate, the ridge narrow and flattened until towards
the end, when it becomes considerably broader, the sides sloping, the tip convex
above and ending in a blunt point, the edges thick and flattened; nasal groove
extending to near the tip; lower mandible with the angle long and very narrow,
the dorsal line straight, the sides sloping outwards, with a long narrow groove,
the tip a little broader, but tapering. Head rather small, oblong, compressed;
neck of ordinary length; body rather full. Feet rather long, slender; tibia
bare a third part of its length; tarsus anteriorly and posteriorly scutellate;
hind toe very small, or wanting, the rest of moderate length, slender, the
fourth slightly longer than the second, the third longest, all free, broadly
marginate, with numerous scutella. Claws small, slightly arched, compressed,
rather obtuse. Plumage soft, blended, on the back distinct. Wings very long,
pointed; primaries tapering, obtuse, the first longest; one of the inner
secondaries very long. Tail rather short, nearly even, of twelve feathers.