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Identifying a species of bird is usually based on color patterns, size and its movements, but occasionally it becomes more complex and can lead to dead ends. Sometimes actions overlap and size doesn’t help. I’ve spent some time hiking the dike trail on the west side of the parking lot on Padilla Bay and had problems identifying some common species.

The habitat was basically acres of low grass grown as lawn grass for seed. It is short and green all year. Birds seen at a distance were foraging for worms, mainly cutworm and wireworm. They were probing with their bills and walking around showing a...