This little guy walked in to the gallery and came up by the desk and just sat there for a few minutes looking at me till a customer almost stepped on his tail. Then he panicked, flew into the window, and knocked himself silly and into the trash can. I fished him out and he was breathing and blinking but his head was lolling around and I thought he'd probably killed himself. Turns out he was just woozy because he took off and flew out the door good as new before I could get a better picture with my camera phone.
He's about the size and shape of a Cornish game hen, with a long thin bill and long skinny legs. I think he's some sort of sandpiper, but he was darker and more reddish-brown than both I thought sandpipers were and the pictures of them I found on the internet.
Any birdwatchers able to identify him by his belly?
UPDATE: My ornithologist buddy has identified him as an American Woodcock. Here's a picture of what the top part of him looks like:
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Again, I repeat, I'm no pro.
Cat--You're right. Oddly, very few sandpipers have reddish-brown bellies with no white spots or barring, which should make identification easier. The closest I'm coming is a Short-Billed Dowitcher, but the time of year, location, and plumage don't all add up. I'm waiting for my ornithologist friend to weigh in.
Just a guess mind you.
If she'd, perhaps, thrown a guinea pig (gerbil for Shag) across the room, I can understand her confusion.
So. One vote guinea pig, one vote gerbil, and one vote duckbilled-brown-blind-falcon-eagle-hen, from the Man Who Thinks He Knows Too Much.
Imagine my surprise when one day I heard them saying "Fuck you!" and "Go fuck yourself!" to each other while in a heated argument over the food dish. Not only did they pick up human words, but they were using those words in the correct emotional context and to communicate with each other.
Comforts me - I like to think he knows just what he's saying and that he is saying it to me!
And now, because I just finished reading it, I have to ask whether you've read Irene Pepperberg's Alex and Me.
Shag? We're outa here.
Cool story anyway.
Deborah--Maybe he does know what he's saying...
Trig--I don't know what he was doing in the Quarter either.
Mrs. Michaels--I have not read that yet, but I've been meaning to.
skeltnwm--I washed my hands.
Monte