Stint mystery unraveled -

The appearance of the stint at Ketura sewage pools on 11th May with unusually long legs was certainly enough to have the heart pounding! The visual appearance of the bird in the field was so distinct that I, and a number of visiting birders were able to pick it out from the handful of Little Stints present without a problem. However, after publishing the news of a 'possible' Long-toed Stint (Calidris subminuta), we received a number of instructive emails, including this one from Petro Pynnönen which offered some clarity on the event and laid the matter to rest once and for all.

Petro commented as follows:

"I saw the Long-toed Stint news in your web pages after sending my previous mail.

The bird is a second-calendar year Little Stint (Calidris minuta). Firstly, the general appearance is perfect for Little Stint. It is a long legged individual, therefore the toes project beyond the tail. In the first photo it is possible to age the bird: it has juvenile inner primaries and outer secondaries and lesser coverts, though age has little to do with identifying this particular individual.

The head pattern is perfect for Little Stint, Long-toed should have more prominent dark reaching the bill, stronger supercilia and a more prominent ear-covert pattern.

In photo B, the bill is not pale at the base, but muddy. The legs seem to be dirty and therefore pale. I have also seen pale legged Little Stints, and also photos of a clearly yellow-legged individual.

The dark drop shape pattern of the lower scapulars is typical of Little Stint, Long-toed should have more narrow dark centres in the feathers. Long-toed should also have streaked flanks, not shown on this individual.

And as you mentioned, the tertials are short, typical for Little, not Long-toed.

I have studied the ageing and identification of Little Stint (and the whole stint group) and ringed about 500 Little Stints in Finland. Also, I have some unpublished information about new ageing criterias for Little Stint.

There was once a claimed Long-toed Stint in Finland, twitched by about 300 birders! I was one of the first ones to point out that the bird was actually just a weird Little Stint. In this case I am as sure as I can be.

- Petro -"

We sincerely want to thank Petro for this remarkably clear solution to what appeared to be a rather sticky identification issue from this end. We also would like to thank Barak Granit, who also offered constructive comments, and independently concluded that the bird was just a strange Little Stint.

On a personal note, this was a very important identification lesson for me and I'm pleased to have reached a solid conclusion.

Good birding,

James Smith & The Birdingisrael team".