(AEgialitis montana)
The mountain plover is very plentiful on the plains of southern
California during the winter months. This little bird as a table
delicacy is not surpassed by any of the long list of shore birds. In
fact it is preferred by many to the far-famed jack snipe. It is an
upland bird, feeding largely on insects, and rarely found near the
marshes whether salt or fresh-water. In its winter plumage, as seen
here, its underparts are white with the breast and upper parts of a
brownish gray.
=Color=--Throat, breast and under parts, white; the rest of the
plumage, light buffish gray; sometimes the breast will show a slight
tinge of buff; axillars, white; bill, black. Three toes without web.
=Nest and Eggs=--The nests are placed on the uplands and contain three
grayish eggs, spotted with brown.
=Measurements=--Total length, 8-3/4 inches; wing, 6, and
bill, 9/10 of an inch.