Nature Done Wright

Incorporating the Celery Farm and Screech Owl Companion blogs

March 3, 2023

Monday Mystery Answered

On Monday I wriote:

A recent mystery involved a carving on display at NJ Audubon's Lorrimer Sanctuary.

While I was visiting, sanctuary director Alexa Fantacone gave me a look at a large and ancient collection of taxidermied birds. (Yes, we wore COVID masks and gloves in case any of the birds were preserved with arsenic.)

Some proved to be of value, including several labeled bird skins from the Smithsonian.

Other proved to be mysteries, like this unlabeled young taxidermied shorebird.

What is it?

Diane Louie replied:

Assuming this is a species that breeds in New Jersey, I favor American Oystercatcher (given the sturdy, dark-appearing bill, although the legs look rather spindly…) over, say, Least Tern or other tern spp.

(I was thinking some sort of sandpiper…)