Proposal (779) to South American Classification Committee

Transfer Calidris acuminata (Sharp-tailed Sandpiper) from Hypothetical List to Main SACC list

The current entry in our Hypothetical List is as follows:

Calidris acuminata Sharp-tailed Sandpiper: Published photograph from Bolivia (Knowlton 2016). SACC proposal badly needed.

This remarkable record was documented by Will Knowlton at Laguna Colorada, dpto. Potosí, Bolivia, on 14 Nov. 2014, and published, with photos. If the screen shots below from the paper are not sufficiently clear, be sure to see them online in the original paper: http://www.neotropicalbirdclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Knowlton.pdf.

The diagnostic characters of a juvenile C. acuminata can be seen in the photos: tawny unstreaked breast, rusty crown, broad superciliary, and greenish yellow legs, etc. See the paper for full discussion. Kevin Zimmer confirmed the identification for the paper.

I recommend a YES on this, i.e. to add to main list as the first record for the SACC area.

Literature Cited:

KNOWLTON, W. H. 2016. Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Calidris acuminata in Bolivia: first documented record for South America. Cotinga 38: 20-22.

Van Remsen, February 2018

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Comments from Zimmer: “YES. The photos from Bolivia are unequivocal, confirming Sharp-tailed Sandpiper as having occurred in the SACC area.”

Comments from Claramunt: “YES. The record is well documented and identifiable.”

Comments from Robbins: “YES. This is very straightforward, obvious yes vote.”

Comments from Jaramillo: “YES. ID is clear cut from the photos in the paper. Note that in some Chilean lists this species is included, but it is based on an occurrence on Easter Island which is of course outside of the region covered by the SACC.”

Comments from Pacheco: “YES. A safe yes!”

Comments from Stiles: “YES. The photos are decisive for this identification.”

Comments from Areta: “YES. Pictures shown suffice for species diagnosis.”