>From Russell Rogers, rrogers at halcyon.com
>
> On Friday, August 19th, I found an adult breeding plumaged Bar-tailed
> Godwit at the Game Range at Ocean Shores. It was seen at low tide feeding
> with dowicthers and Black-bellied Plovers. I would guess that it was
> probably a male because it seemed so small in comparison to the
> dowicthers and because it seemed to have a very short bill. The bird was
> seen at around 10:30. It looked very much like the photo of the
> Bar-tailed Godwit in Dennis's book. Very bright orange breast. The tail
> in flight was darkish, making it belong to the _baueri_ subspecies.

As far as I know, female Bar-tailed Godwits look very dull even in full
"breeding" plumage. Females tend to change little in colour between winter
and summer, so the fact that your bird had a bright orange breast is also
indicative of it being a male.
The individual that is hanging out at Boundary Bay here in Vancouver is
also an adult male, quite a handsome bird.

Al Jaramillo
jaramill at sfu.ca
Vancouver, B.C.