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Like most 'peeps,' western sandpipers alternate between a fairly drab winter ('basic') plumage and a much brighter breeding (or 'alternate') plumage. Confusingly, they also have a juvenile plumage, which resembles the adult breeding plumage but without the rusty facial markings. These were photographed in August at the San Jacinto Wildlife Area in southern California. Other images of western sandpipers are on this page; pictures of roosting flocks are here, breeding-plumage adults are here.
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