Current Topic: Sandpiper

Is the Purple Sandpiper Really Purple?

Does the Purple Sandpiper really have purple plumage? The answer is no… and yes. In breeding colors, the bird shows no purple at all. In the winter months, however, you can see a slight purple gloss on the feathers… that is, if you look carefully – and if the sun is shining on the feathers in the perfect angle. If there is no sun, you won’t see it.

No sun? No gloss.

Even if there is sun, it has to hit the feathers at the right angle.

The sun is shining on this Sandpiper, but I don’t see the purple.

I finally saw the purple sheen on one of my more recent trips to Barnegat. The light was perfect. It made a believer out of me!

You can see the purple on this one!

The purple is even more apparent here.

And for a photo that is cropped in…

A close up of the purple sheen.

I hope this convinced you. Really though, I just needed an excuse to show some Purple Sandpiper photos, so at the very least, I hope you enjoyed the imagery!

You can sort of see the purple here.