Red knot Calidris canutus

Identification Tips:

• Length: 9 inches
• Fairly small shorebird
• Medium-length, thin, dark bill
• Dark legs
• Gray wing stripe
• Gray rump and tail
• Sexes similar
• Juvenile is similar to basic-plumaged adults

Adult alternate:

• Reddish face, throat and breast
• Gray crown, nape and back
• Wing coverts gray and black with reddish spots
• White belly with black spots

Adult basic:

• Solid gray upperparts and breast
• White belly with irregular gray markings along flanks
• White supercilium and dark eyeline
• Juvenile has fine black and white edges to back and wing coverts creating a scaly look

Similar species:

In alternate plumage, the reddish face and breast can also be found in the Curlew Sandpiper and Sanderling. The Curlew Sandpiper has a decurved bill and a white rump while the smaller Sanderling has black spotting on the breast and a bold white wing stripe. In basic and juvenile plumage, it is considerably larger than "peeps" (Least, Semipalmated, Western, et al). Stilt and Curlew Sandpipers are similar in size but have decurved bills. Yellowlegs are larger with thinner bills and bright yellow legs. In flight, the featureless gray rump, back, tail and plain wings are different from other shorebirds that have white or black rumps and wing stripes.

Length and wingspan from: Robbins, C.S., Bruun, B., Zim, H.S., (1966). Birds of North America. New York: Western Publishing Company, Inc.