What type of bird is this?

Question

Another bird ID question. :-)

This bird has been hanging in a pile of leaves in my front yard all morning. I've never seen one like this in my 'hood, so I'm wondering what it is. Here's what I can see:

He's larger than a sparrow but slightly smaller than, say, a mourning dove;
He's buff-brown in color (like a mourning dove) but he has dark markings on his back;
He has large black eyes and dark markings on top of his head;
He has a long bill, like a shorebird. It might be curved down. He also appears to have a short tail;
I only saw him walk briefly, but he doesn't appear to have long legs or webbed feet.

I don't know if the bird is an adult of a juvenile. I also don't know if it's male or female.

The bird looks sort of like a sandpiper or something like that to me. I don't live anywhere near water (I'm in the Phila. burbs), so I guess he's just passing thru on his way to nicer pastures.

Any guesses? Thanks.

Answer 1

I thought you might be describing an American woodcock, check the one in this link:
http://www.fws.gov/northeast/moosehorn/images/Woodcock.jpg

Answer 2

Sounds like either an

American Woodcock
http://www.pbase.com/rcm1840/image/72965587

or

Wilson's Snipe:
http://www.pbase.com/rcm1840/image/57654955

both of which are in the sandpiper family, but a bit more terrestrial, and do not need to be found near water.

either way, a neat bird to have in your yard.

Answer 3

Not positive from you description..the only thing I can come up with is a Killdeer. They are a type of Plover and can be seen on the shore OR far inland. They are pretty common across the US. Look here for more info:

http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Killdeer.html
http://www.nbbd.com/photos/MelodysPhotos/images/killdeer.jpg

Answer 4

Sounds like a sand piper to me too. I live out in the midwest and we are landlocked so I suppose it's possible to have them in Philly.

Answer 5

i've never seen a bird like that

Answer 6

welllllll it mite be a red crested cardnal.im a bird specalist.
i know i spelled it wrong.