Identifying species with similar traits

Identifying a species of bird is usually based on color patterns, size and its movements, but occasionally it becomes more complex and can lead to dead ends. Sometimes actions overlap and size doesn’t help. I’ve spent some time hiking the dike trail on the west side of the parking lot on Padilla Bay and had problems identifying some common species.

The habitat was basically acres of low grass grown as lawn grass for seed. It is short and green all year. Birds seen at a distance were foraging for worms, mainly cutworm and wireworm. They were probing with their bills and walking around showing a shore tail; they made no sound and took short flights as a scattered flock. There was little flight pattern.

Meadowlarks used the same area and resembled the darker birds in size and flight. I was not close enough to see details like color patterns, however, I finally noticed a yellowish tinge and a breast band. These were western meadowlarks wintering in the area. They are grass lovers. They used to be common in western Washington in the last century when small cattle farms were numerous. There are small flocks on Fir Island in winter, but they don’t nest here anymore.

The similar species turned out to be common starlings, which also spends much time on the ground in short grass. When probing for worms the starling inserts its bill into the sod and opens it, forcing the worm to the surface.

In October there were only a few migratory shorebirds present in the mud flats at Hayton Farms game range on Fir Island Road south of the Snow Goose Produce market. You will need a bird book to identify these species. Look for a smaller plover about robin sized. They have fairly short straight bills.

You need to look for subtle color variation. Juvenile and adult winter plumage is similar but the juvenile plumage on the pacific golden has a yellowish-brown cast on the back. The eyebrow is dark whereas the American golden plover winters in the Pacific Ocean area. Their common wintering grounds are beach areas of Hawaii where people are not present.

These birds nest in the artic area in the tundra plains.