This is a long-overdue post (I have a LOT of catching-up to do...maybe a winter project).
Back on August 17th I was birding Griswold Point in Old Lyme, CT and was lucky enough to have a juvenile "Eastern" Willet associating with a juvenile "Western" Willet - a side-by-side that isn't often seen so well in Connecticut.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiphrdBhN6xsGg1jpgDbDVaFsbcKbM8PNcezpVu80ncfnLu_LRrLXeQgA1usmOQ84dTtxqdhvF_HGb8tUZtbTZg2GSvylamcLXjTmo5_0LkFCfeAVqfcuMRcEJFCbV4kJYd2-avB8cpPDg/s400/IMG_0267A_filtered.jpg) |
On Western (at rear), note paler upperpart coloration, less contrast between scapulars and wing coverts (less-heavily marked upperparts overall), and subtly more elongated rear-end. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7IgEodInYCm2TH8NQeRAMMrFdNz2G6xUSnsGSF_WuilkMo6XzH6aDx94mkILnZOHK9l8ZKOjJqLTjTngxUXlqJhmCr4AVzw2kTxlJIgYm2Iup_UzEKyY8gfxLdAv_yfxC3O547zTpcsk/s400/IMG_0297A_filtered.jpg) |
On Western (left), note larger size and longer, thinner bill. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_p9DXuRp6rfcz_boSGwZ2awFUaH38S_iV5jFNKRnX_QPXTKd8eINMEItx1zcmwpQWjV21bq7tRkYqjnZXR_CvL_cFUWJQUoDjXurCPEKxTVe24XdO2_lfJHQvi1tzGbb_NDx-osVu-KI/s400/IMG_0303A_filtered.jpg) |
"Western" Willet is a lankier bird overall, while "Eastern" is more compact. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivfrf6pQ9QcKL6RvsDrLoAfeDnzwPG7yrBsaAbt8HTz3LjuKG884ltVCms-pFsyf3MDm_99-cIULLhSV0aqOt_nuYERHdMwS0a4v-PNUEPWJNBQ6ThUt5KSxpQsPmo2sBM7L5aWJuEXcc/s400/IMG_0326A_filtered.jpg) |
another bill and size comparison |
Later on the "Western" Willet broke off to feed a bit closer to where I was standing:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOXmpkXBO8MmKTYN8-FZ6wUKOn8ANiGdpBrcM2nwSrOmYKk3C8tFHgT9aLfWPsNqXQUkqEiYl9otv0smtgkIwp-LnOGDHez7OGU9IbRuxn4lGT6AjdCvGtZMxGyMhNisBnzpXW21l24ew/s400/IMG_5245A.jpg) |
juv "Western" Willet |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8BVv1C-Fv8EBN3i2axdXfA7K02FvU0Z6pmYGcIF0SgDOeOgrcRJx4m-tW1q-sQoHMl_XIbL7dusTLWzBjUIAxo4DRL4ivs4R3ybe5ItM9ur0WWCsTPVuLD2CEku77AKq_-nInJaSEvQ4/s400/IMG_5316A_filtered.jpg) |
juv "Western" Willet (Semipalmated Plovers in foreground) |
- NB
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