west coast of Florida as far north as Tampa Bay, but it was rare in
midwinter and did not become common until March. It frequented the sand
bars and sandy islands on the Gulf shore, together with other small
plovers and sandpipers. It was much tamer than any of the other shore
birds and less active; it was the only one of the whole tribe that
could be openly approached on the unprotected beaches. It was usually
seen singly, apart from the others, and never in flocks.
DISTRIBUTION
_Range._--Southern United States, the West Indies, Central and South
America.
_Breeding range._--The Wilson plover breeds north to probably Lower
California (La Paz); Texas (Brownsville, Corpus Christi, probably
Rockport, probably Matagorda Island, Houston, and Galveston);
Louisiana (probably Cameron Parish and the Breton Island Reservation);
Mississippi (Dog Key); probably Alabama (Bayou Labatre and Dauphin
Island); western Florida (Milton and probably James Island); and
formerly New Jersey (Beach Haven). East to formerly New Jersey (Beach
Haven, probably Great Egg Harbor, and Cape May); Virginia (Cobb Island
and Cape Charles); North Carolina (Pea Island, Beaufort, and Cape
Fear); South Carolina (Bulls Bay, Sullivan Island, and Frogmore);
Georgia (Tybee Island, Ossabaw Island, and Blackbeard Island); the east
coast of Florida (Fernandina, Amelia Island, Matanzas Inlet, Mosquito
Inlet, and Coronado Beach); the Bahama Islands (New Providence, Rum
Cay, and Inagua Island); and probably Porto Rico. South to probably
Porto Rico; probably Jamaica (Great Salt Pond and Port Henderson);
probably Cuba (Trinidad); and British Honduras (Grassy Cay). West to
British Honduras (Grassy Cay); Gulf of California; and probably Lower
California (La Paz).
The status of the species in the southern part of its summer range
has not yet been definitely settled, and some alleged races have been
described, whose breeding ranges are undoubtedly included in the
summary given above.
_Winter range._--The species has been detected in winter north to Lower
California (San Jose Island); Sonora (Guaymas); Texas (probably rarely
Brownsville and Matagorda County); probably Louisiana (Vermilion Bay);
Mississippi (Hancock County); and Florida (mouth of the St. Johns
River). East to Florida (mouth of the St. Johns River, St. Augustine,
New Smyrna, and Key West); the Bahama Islands (Andros Islands and
Watling Island); probably Santo Domingo (Samana); probably Porto Rico
(Culebra Island and Vieques Island); the Lesser Antilles (Anegada);
French Guiana (Cayenne and Rio Oyapok); and Brazil (Cajetuba, Bahia,
and Camamu). South to Brazil (Camamu); and Peru (Tumbez). West to Peru
(Tumbez); Ecuador (Puna Island); Colombia (Cartagena and Sabanilla);
Honduras (Swan Islands); Guatemala (Chiapam); and Lower California (La
Paz and San Jose Island).
_Spring migration._--Early dates of spring arrival are Georgia,
Cumberland, March 18, and Darien, March 19; South Carolina, Bulls
Point, March 10, Frogmore, March 20, and Mount Pleasant, March 26;
North Carolina, Fort Macon, April 15, and Pea and Bodie Islands, April
24; and Virginia, Toms Brook, April 8.
_Fall migration._--Almost nothing is known about the fall migration of
this plover but Wayne (1910) says that it remains on the beaches of
South Carolina “until September 22, or perhaps until October.”
_Casual records._--Wilson plovers have been noted or collected on
several occasions outside of their normal range. Most of these have
naturally been in New York and on the coast of New England. Among them
are: New York, three at Far Rockaway, May 17, 1879, one at Shinnecock
Bay, May 16, 1884, one at Good Ground, May 28, 1879, Orient, July
3, 1915, and Long Beach, July 1, 1872; Connecticut, taken once at
Stratford, and seen at Bridgeport on July 28, 1888; Massachusetts,
Gurnet Point, August 22, 1877, one at Ipswich, May 8, 1904, and about
25 reported as seen at Dennis, September 4, 1920; Nova Scotia, one at
Brier Island, April 28, 1880; and one from Halifax that is preserved in
the British Museum; and California, one taken at Pacific Beach, June
27, 1894, and another seen at Imperial Beach, May 11, 1918.
_Egg dates._--Virginia: 22 records, May 4 to June 20; 11 records, May
27 to June 6. South Carolina and Georgia: 50 records, April 14 to June
21; 25 records, May 17 to June 10. Florida: 26 records, April 2 to July
10; 13 records, May 12 to June 11. Texas: 11 records, April 7 to June
18; 6 records, April 20 to May 19.
PODASOCYS MONTANUS (J. K. Townsend)
MOUNTAIN PLOVER
HABITS
The above name is not especially appropriate for this species. The
name, Rocky Mountain plover, would have been better, for its breeding
range is mainly in the Rocky Mountain plateau. It frequents elevated
ground but it is not a bird of the mountains but of the dry plains.
Coues (1874) says:
While most other plovers haunt the vicinity of water,
to which some are almost confined, the present species
is not in the least degree of aquatic habits, but, on
the contrary, resorts to plains as dry and sterile as
any of our country--sometimes the grassy prairies, with
shore larks and titlarks, various ground sparrows, and
the burrowing owl; sometimes sandy deserts, where the
sage brush and the “chamizo,” the prickly pear and the
Spanish bayonet, grow in full luxuriance. It approaches
the Pacific, but will never be found on the beach itself,
with maritime birds, nor even on the adjoining mud-flats or
marshes, preferring the firm, grassy fields further back
from the water.
_Nesting._--W. C. Bradbury (1918) has given us a very good account of
the nesting habits of the mountain plover in Colorado. Of the nesting
site and nest he says:
The ground is an open, rolling prairie, above the line of
irrigation, and is devoted to cattle range. It is several
miles from natural surface water and streams, and is
covered with short-cropped buffalo or gramma grass, 2 or 3
inches high, with frequent bunches of dwarfed prickly pear,
and an occasional cluster of stunted shrub or weed, rarely
more than a foot in height. With the six sets secured, in
no instance had the parent bird taken advantage of the
slight protection offered from sight or the elements by the
nearby cactus, shrubs or uneven spots of ground. In each
case, she had avoided such shelter, locating in the open,
generally between the small grass hummocks and not on or
in them; there was no evidence of the parent birds having
given more thought to nest preparation or concealment, than
does any other plover. In two of the sets the eggs were
all individually embedded in the baked earth to a depth
of one-eighth to one-fourth of an inch, evidently having
settled when the surface of the ground was reduced to soft
mud by rain-water collecting in the slight depressions. As
the ground dried up the eggs were fixed in a perfect mould
or matrix, from which they could not roll. In fact they
could hardly be disturbed at all by the sitting birds. The
only nesting material was a small quantity of fine, dry
rootlets and “crowns” of gramma grass, the eggs in some
instances being slightly embedded in this lining. As it is
also present in all other depressions on the prairie it is
highly probable that here as elsewhere it was deposited
about the eggs by the wind and not through the agency of
the birds themselves. The protective coloration of the
nest and eggs, as well as of the rear view of the birds
themselves, even when in motion, is unsurpassed. In no
instance, except one hereinafter noted, was the bird seen
to leave the nest, nor was any nest found except in the
immediate vicinity of moving birds.
H. G. Hoskin (1893) writes:
The mountain plover builds its nest on open prairie.
The first egg is laid on bare ground, and as the set is
finished and incubation advances the bird gradually makes
a nest of dirt, pieces of hard grass, roots, etc. It takes
five or six days to complete set of three eggs. I have
never found more nor less than three eggs in a nest that I
thought complete. Old birds will fly off the nest while a
person on foot is 80 rods away, but will sit closely for
man on horseback or in a buggy.
William G. Smith (1888) found three nests while traveling by wagon
across the Laramie Plains in Wyoming. “They were all placed within 50
yards of the much-frequented roadway, and each time I saw the female
sitting on the eggs. The old birds are very white which contrasts with
the dark ground and causes them to be easily seen.” The art of feigning
lameness or injury, to entice the intruder away from eggs or young,
seems to be very highly developed in this species. Mr. Smith speaks of
one that seemed to be in a fit, as it lay on its side, within 6 feet
of him, “apparently in strong convulsions.” Mr. Bradbury (1918) tells
of one that, “spreading her wings horizontally to their extreme width
while standing, then falling flat with her neck and wings extended
their full length on the ground, at times with beak open, she retreated
as he approached, or followed closely as he returned toward the nest.”
_Eggs._--The mountain plover lays almost invariably three eggs,
occasionally only two, and four eggs have been recorded. They are ovate
to short ovate in shape, with no gloss. The prevailing ground colors
are “deep olive buff” or “dark olive buff”; some few are “chamois” and
one pink set has a “light pinkish cinnamon” ground color. They are
irregularly marked, but chiefly near the larger end, with small spots
and scrawls of black, which sometimes form a ring near the larger end.
The measurments of 58 eggs average 37.3 by 28.3 millimeters; the eggs
showing the four extremes measure =40= by 28.5, 37.5 by =29.2=, =34.3=
by 28.4, and 38.5 by =27= millimeters.
_Young._--Apparently both sexes incubate; an incubating male has been
taken. William G. Smith says in his notes:
The young are very nimble when only a few days old, and
it is quite a task to catch them. They do not attempt to
hide. A peculiarity of these birds is, though three eggs
are generally laid, I never saw but two young with the old
birds. I lived on the prairies for six years, a mile from
any other habitation; I had every opportunity to observe
the traits of these birds. When they are well able to run
each of the old birds takes one to raise, and that method
seems the rule.
Edward R. Warren’s (1912) observations do not agree with the above, for
he has seen a parent with three young and has seen the young attempt to
hide; but he says “it was easily seen when once found, for its colors
did not blend particularly well with the ground it was on.”
_Plumages._--In the downy young mountain plover the upper parts
are “cream buff,” tinged with “chamois” on the crown, wings, and
rump, shading off to buffy white on the throat and under parts; the
crown, sides of the neck, occiput, back, wings, rump, and thighs are
conspicuously spotted with black; the forehead is unmarked. Young
birds, about half grown, show the juvenal plumage coming in on the
back, scapulars, crown, and sides of the breast, with the wing quills
bursting their sheaths.
In full juvenal plumage, in September, the crown, back, scapulars, and
wing coverts are “buffy brown,” with “cinnamon-buff” edges, broadest
on the wing coverts; the sides of the head are “pinkish buff” and the
breast and flanks are suffused with the same color; the throat and
belly are white. This plumage seems to be worn without much change,
except by wear and fading, all through the first fall and winter. The
upper parts are still mainly “buffy brown,” but with only the faintest
trace of the edgings. The spring molt apparently does not involve
the wing coverts and very few scapulars, so that young birds can be
recognized by these retained feathers.
Adults have a partial prenuptial molt in March and April, involving
the body plumage but not the wings and tail and not all the scapulars
and wing coverts. The black markings on the head are acquired and the
new feathers of the mantle are broadly tipped with “pinkish buff.”
The complete postnuptial molt is accomplished in July and August. The
winter plumage is similar to the nuptial, except that the black loral
patch is lacking and the black crown patch is replaced by dull brown.
_Food._--Feeding on the dry upland plains and prairies, the mountain
plover’s food consists almost wholly, if not entirely, of insects.
Grasshoppers seem to be its principal food, but many crickets, beetles,
and flies are eaten. It seems to be a wholly beneficial species.
Grinnell, Bryant, and Storer (1918) quote Belding as saying “that he
often found this plover in recently sown grain fields, but was never
able to discover a single kernel of wheat in the stomachs of those he
shot.”
_Behavior._--Coues (1874) writes:
They were not difficult of approach, and I had no
difficulty in securing as many as I desired. On being
disturbed by too near approach, they lower the head, run
rapidly a few steps in a light, easy way, and then stop
abruptly, drawing themselves up to their full height and
looking around with timid yet unsuspicious glances. When
forced to fly by persistent annoyance, they rise rapidly
with quick wing beats and then proceed with alternate
sailing and flapping, during the former action holding the
wings decurved. They generally fly low over the ground and
soon realight, taking a few mincing steps as they touch the
ground; they then either squat low, in hopes of hiding, or
stand on tip-toe, as it were, for a better view of what
alarmed them.
Grinnell, Bryant, and Storer (1918) say:
This plover is a flocking species found in bands of
from fifteen to several hundred individuals. Often upon
alighting after they have been in flight, the birds will
immediately run to some distance, so that it is not always
possible to follow them up easily as with other shore
birds. The flocks fly low over the ground and are difficult
to see, except when they wheel. As they do this the under
surfaces of their wings show momentarily as silvery white
flashes.
Aiken and Warren (1914) say:
The mountain plover differs greatly in habits and
characteristics from its near relative the killdeer. It
shows no preference for wet ground but on the contrary
frequents mesas or high rolling prairie land, often remote
from water. Their manner is quiet; they have no wailing
cry; they run rapidly a short distance and stand silent and
motionless with the head sunk low on the shoulders. Their
unspotted plumage blends with the color of the dry grass
and parched ground and makes them difficult to discover.
But in August, when the young birds shift for themselves,
they gather in flocks and repair to the vicinity of water
holes and flooded fields.
William G. Smith says in his notes:
We have often foretold a hailstorm, which are very
prevalent here in summer, by these birds coming near the
house for protection; at these times they seem bewildered,
and nothing will drive them away.
_Voice._--Coues (1874) says on this subject:
Their notes are rather peculiar, as compared with those
of our other plovers, and vary a good deal, according to
circumstances. When the birds are feeding at their leisure,
and in no way apprehensive of danger, they utter a low and
rather pleasing whistle, though in a somewhat drawling or
rather lisping tone; but the note changes to a louder and
higher one, sometimes sounding harshly.
_Field marks._--The mountain plover may be recognized as a medium sized
plover, dressed in plain colors. In the spring the black markings on
the head are visible at short range, but otherwise it is dull, sandy
brown above and white below, without the conspicuous markings of the
killdeer. In flight its axillars and the under sides of its wings are
conspicuously white.
_Game._--This species once figured as a game bird and many were shot
and sold as game in the California markets. It was a fair-sized bird of
some food value, but it was not so highly prized, as a table bird, when
compared with some others. John G. Tyler (1916) writes:
Had not the Federal law intervened these birds would soon
have disappeared forever, as their habits made them a very
easy victim for hunters. The birds feed in loose scattered
flocks, ranging over much ground, but when sufficiently
disturbed all the members of a company take wing and form
into a dense flock which, after beating rapidly back and
forth for a few moments, usually settles again within a
few yards of the intruder, a full hundred birds often
occupying a space no larger than 20 feet in diameter. As
they alight each bird flattens itself upon the ground where
its protective coloration renders it all but invisible save
for the winking of its very large eyes.
As one old resident stated, a favorite method of hunting
was to drive with a horse and buggy among the scattered
birds and cause them to take wing, whereupon the horse was
brought to a standstill until the birds had again settled
on the ground, and in nearly every case this was within
easy gun range. The hunter immediately “ground sluiced”
them with one barrel just as they “squatted” and fired
again as the survivors took wing. My informant stated that
he once killed 65 birds with two shots, and this method
very rarely netted less than 30. I was informed that this
plover was rated as the best table bird in this part of the
State and that parties sometimes came from points as far
away as San Francisco to hunt them. Verily, as my friend
remarked, “they don’t seem to be as plentiful as they were
25 years ago.”
DISTRIBUTION
_Range._--Western United States and Mexico; accidental in Florida and
Massachusetts.
_Breeding range._--The mountain plover breeds north to Montana (Great
Falls, Fort Benton, Big Sandy, and the mouth of Milk River); and North
Dakota (Stump Lake). East to North Dakota (Stump Lake and probably
Hankison); western South Dakota (Edgemont); Nebraska (probably
Harrison, probably Marsland, North Platte, and Kearney); Kansas (Colby,
Oakley, probably Hays, Garden City, and probably Fort Dodge); and
Oklahoma (probably Camp Supply and Fort Cobb). South to Oklahoma (Fort
Cobb); Texas (Washburn, Hereford, and probably Fort Davis); New Mexico
(Otero County and Socorro County); and probably Arizona (Fort Whipple).
West to probably Arizona (Fort Whipple); Colorado (probably Del Norte,
Denver, Barr, and Loveland); Wyoming (Cheyenne, Laramie, probably Fort
Bridger, and probably Dubois); Idaho (Pahsimeroi Valley); and Montana
(Three Forks and Great Falls).
_Winter range._--The mountain plover has the curious habit of occupying
a winter range that is farther west than its summer home. North to
California (probably rarely Marysville); Arizona (Santa Rosa, Buenos
Ayres, and Allaires Ranch); and Texas (San Antonio). East to Texas
(San Antonio, Eagle Pass, Aransas River, and Brownsville); Tamaulipas
(Matamoros); and Zacatecas (Zacatecas). South to Zacatecas (Zacatecas);
and Lower California (La Paz). West to Lower California (La Paz);
Sonora (Santa Rosa and Hermosillo); and California (San Diego, Santa
Ana, Los Angeles, Fort Tejon, Alila, Paicines, probably Stockton, and
probably rarely Marysville).
_Spring migration._--Sufficient data are not available to clearly
define the migratory flights of the mountain plover but among early
dates of spring arrival are: Oklahoma, Norman, March 15; Colorado,
Loveland, March 18, Burlington, March 22, Barr, March 23, Springfield,
March 29, Denver, April 6, and Colorado Springs, April 19; Wyoming,
Cheyenne, April 5, Big Piney, April 12, and Fort Sanders, April 21;
South Dakota, Huron, April 16; and Montana, Big Sandy, May 4, and Fort
Custer, May 12.
A late date of spring departure from California is Santa Ysabel, April
3.
_Fall migration._--Early dates of fall arrival in California are:
Firebaugh, September 11, and Montebello, September 15.
Late dates of fall departure are Montana, Sun River, September 4, Camp
Thorne, on the Yellowstone, September 13, and Big Sandy, September
18; South Dakota, Forestburg, September 20; Nebraska, Monroe Canyon,
September 27; Wyoming, Efell, September 4, and Sweetwater, September
13; Colorado, Barr, October 12, and Beloit, October 15; and New Mexico,
Santa Rosa, September 27, and Stinking Spring Lake, October 1.
_Casual records._--The mountain plover has been detected outside of its
normal range on but few occasions, three of which, curiously enough,
were in Florida. A flock of six was noted on December 1, 1870, at Key
West, and one specimen obtained (Maynard); R. W. Williams records
several at St. James Island between July 20 and August 1, 1901; and
on December 17, 1927, R. J. Longstreet secured a specimen at Daytona
Beach. The only other record is one for Massachusetts, an immature
male, taken at North Beach, near Chatham, on October 28, 1916, and
preserved in the collections of the Boston Society of Natural History
(Brooks).
The species is unknown from Canada. During the international boundary
survey, Doctor Coues found mountain plover on Frenchman Creek and
obtained a specimen that is now in the British Museum. This is reported
as being labeled “forty-ninth parallel,” but the point of collection
was probably well within the present State of Montana.
_Egg dates._--Colorado and Kansas: 74 records, April 30 to June 16; 37
records, May 14 to 26. Montana and Wyoming: 4 records, May 22 to July 9.
Family APHRIZIDAE. Surf birds and Turnstones
APHRIZA VIRGATA (Gmelin)
SURF BIRD
HABITS
From its summer home in the mountains of central Alaska the surf bird
migrates down the Pacific coasts of North and South America as far as
the Straits of Magellan. Twice each year some individuals make this
long journey, while others are scattered along the coasts from southern
Alaska southward. Consequently it may be found, chiefly on migrations
but occasionally at other seasons, by those who seek it on the outlying
rocky ledges, reefs, and promontories all along the Pacific coast. As
its name implies, it is a bird of the surf line, associated in its
rocky habitat with turnstones and wandering tattlers, unmindful of the
flying spray. It well deserves its generic name, which is taken from
two Greek words, _aphros_, meaning sea foam, and _zao_, I live.
_Spring._--The spring migration is directly north along the coasts of
both continents. It is difficult to trace the dates, as the winter
range is so extensive. The latest recorded date for the Straits of
Magellan is March 3; and the earliest date of arrival at the Kobuk
River, Alaska, is May 29. The main flight along the California coast
seems to come in March. Dr. Joseph Grinnell (1909) reports a flight
at Admiralty Island, Alaska, on May 12, “a flock estimated to contain
300 waders, fully two-thirds of which were of this species.” Harry S.
Swarth (1911) says that, at Kuiu Island, Alaska, between April 25 and
May 6, “it was abundant and in large flocks, feeding in company with
the numerous other waders frequenting the mud flats.” H. B. Conover saw
it only once at Hooper Bay, Alaska, on May 18.
_Nesting._--The breeding grounds and the nesting habits of the surf
bird long remained unknown. The birds vanished from the coast of Alaska
about the first of June and were not seen again for six weeks or more,
when they appeared again with their young. Rumors suggested that they
bred in the mountains in the interior. O. J. Murie (1924) gave us the
first definite information, when he discovered the breeding ground
of the species in the Mount McKinley Park region of central Alaska.
On July 13, 1921, he was descending a slope above timber line, “when
two surf birds were flushed and circled about making an outcry.” He
was “presently rewarded by seeing a downy young one striding away
bravely over the rough ground.” The young bird was secured and one of
the parents, which proved to be the male, thus establishing the first
breeding record for the species.