Illinois, and Oregon: south to West Indies and Guatemala." (A.O.U.)
Probably breeds throughout its North American range (Connecticut,
Illinois, Kansas).
Gallinules and Coot
[Illustration: 218.]
=218. Purple Gallinule= (_Ionornis martinica_). L. 13. _Ads._
Crown-plate bluish, bill carmine tipped with greenish; back shining
green; below purplish blue; under tail-coverts white. _Yng._ Above
browner; below with white; no red on bill.
Range.--Tropical and subtropical America; breeds only in eastern North
America north to southern Illinois and South Carolina, strays to Maine
and Wisconsin; winters from southern Florida south to South America.
[Illustration: 219.]
=219. Florida Gallinule= (_Gallinula galeata_). L. 13.5. _Ad._
Crown-plate red, bill red tipped with greenish; legs green with a red
ring; back olive-brown; flanks slate _streaked with white_. _Yng._
Crown-plate smaller with bill brownish; no red on legs; below grayish.
_Notes._ An explosive _chuck_ and many loud and varied calls
suggesting a disturbed brooding hen, the squawking of a struggling
hen, etc.
Range.--Temperate and tropical America; breeds locally north to Maine,
Montreal, Minnesota, and northern California; winters from Gulf States
and California southward.
[Illustration: 221.]
=221. American Coot= (_Fulica americana_). L. 15. Toes with scallops.
_Ads._ Bill whitish; crown-plate and two spots on bill brownish; head
and neck black; rest of plumage slate. _Yng._ Whiter below, browner
above, crown-plate smaller. _Notes._ An explosive _cuck_ and noisy
cackling notes.
Range.--North America; breeds in the interior (chiefly northward)
north to the Mackenzie and on Pacific coast to British Columbia;
winters from British Columbia and Gulf States south to Central America
and West Indies.
Order IX. SHORE BIRDS.
LIMICOLA†.
Family 1. PHALAROPES. PhalaropodidA|. 3 species.
Family 2. AVOCETS AND STILTS. RecurvirostridA|. 2 species.
Family 3. SNIPES, SANDPIPERS, ETC. ScolopacidA|. 33 species,
2 subspecies.
Family 4. PLOVERS. CharadriidA|. 9 species, 2 subspecies.
Family 5. SURF BIRDS AND TURNSTONES. AphrizidA|. 4 species.
Family 6. OYSTER-CATCHERS. HA|matopodidA|. 3 species.
Family 7. JACANAS. JacanidA|. 1 species.
The Phalaropes are swimming Snipes. The Northern and Red Phalaropes,
both of which have well-developed lobes or scalloped webs on their
toes, except when nesting, live at sea a hundred miles or more off
shore, where they find an abundance of food in small forms of marine
life. The Wilson Phalarope is a bird of the interior and consequently,
is far less aquatic than the remaining species of the family;
nevertheless it readily takes to water, swimming buoyantly and
gracefully.
Contrary to the general rule, the female Phalarope is larger and more
brightly colored than the male and this difference in size and plumage
is accompanied by similarly unusual habits; the female taking the
place of the male in the Phalarope household. The female of necessity
lays the eggs, but they are hatched by the male alone, who it is said,
cares for the young, also without the assistance of his mate.
The Avocets and Stilts are wading Snipes. The Stilts secure their food
by quick thrusts of the bill, but the Avocets use their singular,
upturned member in a more interesting manner. When in water two or
three inches deep, the bill is dropped below the surface, until the
curved lower mandible evidently touches the bottom; then walking
rapidly, or even running, the bill is swung from side to side and the
bird thus explores the mud in its search for food, which, when it is
felt, is picked up in the usual way.
Many of the members of the family ScolopacidA| are probing Snipe. The
Woodcock, Wilson Snipe, and Dowitcher are good examples. Their bill is
long and sensitive and they can curve or move its tip without opening
it at the base. When the bill is thrust into the mud the tip may
therefore grasp a worm and it thus becomes a finger as well as a
probe.
Though not ranked as song birds, many of the Snipes and Plovers have
pleasing calls and whistles and in the breeding season they become
highly musical or indulge in singular vocal performances.
The song of the Bartramian Sandpiper would attract the attention of
the least observant and the singular aA"rial evolutions of the Snipe
and Woodcock lend an unusual interest to the study of these birds in
the spring. The Pectoral Sandpiper was observed by Nelson in Alaska,
in May, to fill its A"sophagus with air dilating the skin of the neck
and breast and forming a sack as large as the body. Then in the air or
on the ground the bird produced a series of hollow booming notes,
constituting its love song.
The Plovers have shorter, harder bills than the true Snipe and several
of our species frequent the uplands rather than muddy shore or tidal
flats.
The Turnstones are true shore birds. Their home with us is on the
seacoast where they feed along the beach turning over shells and
pebbles in their search for food.
The Oyster-catchers are also strictly maritime. They frequent bars
left bare by the tide and, it is said, use their stout bills to force
open mussels; oysters, or other bivalves left exposed by the water.
This belief, however, does not appear to rest on careful, definite
observation.
The Jacana belongs to a small family of birds with representatives
throughout the tropics. All its members are remarkable for the length
of their toes, the wide extent of which enable these birds to walk
over aquatic vegetation. So, for instance, I have seen them running
over small lily leaves which, sinking slightly beneath the surface,
made the birds appear to be walking on the water.
The LimicolA|, as a rule, nest on the ground. The Phalaropes, Snipes,
and Plovers lay four eggs, the Oyster-catcher three, the Jacanas, it
is said, four in some species to ten in others. The eggs of all are
proportionately large and pointed or pear-shaped and are usually
thickly marked with dark spots. The young are born covered with down
and leave the nest just after hatching.
Shore Birds
[Illustration: _Foot of Phalarope 1/2 Size_]
[Illustration: 222.]
=222. Red Phalarope= (_Crymophilus fulicarius_). L. 8.10; B. 9. Bill
heavy, wider than deep. _Ad._ [Female]. Below entirely reddish brown;
cap black, back black and buff. _Ad._ [Male]. Similar, but smaller;
crown and back streaked with brown, black, and buff. _Yng._ Resemble
[Male], but upper tail-coverts plumbeous, underparts _white_.
_Winter._ _Crown_ and underparts white, hindneck black, back gray.
_Notes._ A musical _clink_, _clink_. (Nelson.)
Range.--"Northern parts of northern hemisphere, breeding in the Arctic
regions and migrating south in winter; in the United States south to
the Middle States. Ohio Valley, and Cape St. Lucas; chiefly maritime."
(A.O.U.)
[Illustration: 223.]
=223. Northern Phalarope= (_Phalaropus lobatus_). L. 7.7; B. .8. Bill
short, slender, sharply pointed. _Ad._ [Female]. Breast rufous; above
slaty gray mixed with ochraceous on back. _Ad._ [Male]. Smaller, less
rufous; on throat; above blackish streaked with rusty. _Yng._
Underparts and _forehead_ white; crown sooty; back blackish streaked
with straw-color. _Winter._ Upperparts gray mixed with white;
underparts white. _Notes._ A low chippering, clicking note.
Range.--Northern hemisphere; breeds from Labrador and northern British
America north to Greenland and Alaska; winters apparently south of
United States where it is known as a migrant chiefly off the coasts.
[Illustration: 224.]
=224. Wilson Phalarope= (_Steganopus tricolor_). L. 9.5; B. 1.3. Bill
long. _Ad._ [Female]. Sides of neck black and chestnut; crown and back
gray. _Ad._ [Male]. Smaller; chestnut and black much less and duller;
crown and back blackish, latter sometimes with rufous. _Yng._ Below
white; crown and back black margined with ochraceous; nape brownish
gray. _Winter._ Above gray, upper tail-coverts white; below white.
_Notes._ A soft, trumpet _yna_, _yna_.
Range.--North America, chiefly in the interior; breeds from northern
Illinois (rarely), Minnesota and Central California, north to latitude
55A deg.; winters south of United States to southern South America.
[Illustration: 283.]
=283. Turnstone= (_Arenaria interpres_). Similar to 283.1 but larger,
W. 6., and upperparts in _ad._ with black prevailing. _Yng._ Blacker
than young of 283.1.
Range.--Eastern hemisphere, in America, only in Greenland and Alaska.
=283.1. Ruddy Turnstone= (_Arenaria morinella_). L. 9.5; W. 5.7.
_Ads._ Reddish brown prevailing in upper surface. _Yng._ Above and
breast grayish brown margined with buffy, throat, abdomen, rump and
long upper tail-coverts _white_ as in ad.; shorter upper tail-coverts
black. _Notes._ When flying, a loud twittering note. (Nuttall.)
Range.--Nearly cosmopolitan; breeds in Arctic regions; winters in
America south of United States to Patagonia.
[Illustration: 288.]
=288. Mexican Jacana= (_Jacana spinosa_). L. 8. Toes over 1.5. _Ads._
Chestnut and black; wings mostly greenish. _Yng._ Forehead, line over
eye, and below white. Above grayish brown, sometimes with rump
chestnut, nape black. _Notes._ A harsh, rapidly repeated _eep_, _eep_,
_eep_.
Range.--Central America and Mexico north to Lower Rio Grande Valley,
Cuba and Haiti.
[Illustration: 225.]
=225. American Avocet= (_Recurvirostra americana_). L. 16.5; B. 3.7.
_Ads._ Head and neck rufous; belly white; wings black and white. _Yng.
and Ads. in winter._ Similar, but head and neck grayish or whitish.
_Notes._ A rather musical, loud _plAe"Ae"-Ae"Ae"k_ hurriedly
repeated.
Range.--North America west of Mississippi; breeds from northern
States, central California and rarely Texas, north in the interior to
latitude 54A deg.: winters from southern California and western Gulf States
to Central America and West Indies; casual on Atlantic coast.
[Illustration: 264.]
=264. Long-billed Curlew= (_Numenius longirostris_). L. 24; B. 6.,
longest among our Snipe. _Ads._ Above black and buffy; tail barred
buffy and black; below buffy, neck and breast finely streaked with
dusky. _Yng._ Similar, but buff deeper.
Range.--North America; breeds on Atlantic coast from Florida to North
Carolina; in interior north to Manitoba and British Columbia; later
strays casually to Newfoundland and Ontario; winters from Gulf States
and southern California southward.
[Illustration: 265.]
=265. Hudsonian Curlew= (_Numenius hudsonicus_). L. 17; B. 3.7. _Ads._
Less buff than No. 264; above dark grayish brown and brownish gray;
tail barred with same; below white, breast streaked; sides barred with
blackish.
Range.--North America; breeds in Arctic region; winters south of
United States to South America.
[Illustration: 266.]
=266. Eskimo Curlew= (_Numenius borealis_). L. 13.5; B. 2. _Ads._ Tail
barred with grayish brown and black; above blackish and buffy; below
buffy, the breast thickly streaked; sides barred with blackish.
Range.--Eastern North America; breeds In Arctic regions; winters south
of United States to South America; migrates chiefly through interior.
[Illustration: 226.]
=226. Black-necked Stilt= (_Himantopus mexicanus_). L. 15; Tar 4.10.
_Ad._ [Male]. Forehead, lower back, and underparts white; crown,
hindneck, upper back, and wings black. _Ad._ [Female]. Similar, but
upper back and scapulars grayish brown. _Yng._ Similar to [Female],
but brown and black feathers lightly margined with buffy.
_Notes._ A sharp, rapidly uttered _ip-ip-ip_ when flying; a hoarse
_k-r-r-r-r-ing_ note when on the ground.
Range.--Temperate and tropical America; breeds north to Gulf States,
(locally and rarely in Mississippi Valley to Minnesota) and
California; winters from southern California and West Indies to
northern South America; rare east of Mississippi except in Gulf
States.
[Illustration: 286.]
=286. American Oyster-catcher= (_HA|matopus palliatus_). L. 19. _Ads._
Base of tail and longer upper tail-coverts white, shorter coverts and
_all_ back blackish brown; white in wings conspicuous in flight.
_Yng._ Similar but feathers above with buffy margins. _Notes._ A sharp
_eep_, _eep_.
Range.--Temperate and tropical America; breeds on sea coasts only,
north to Virginia and western Mexico; winters south of United States
to South America; casual north to Nova Scotia.
=286.1. Frazar Oyster-catcher= (_HA|matopus frazari_). Similar to No.
286, but darker above, black breast passing into white belly through a
mottled black and white band; upper tail coverts with brown markings.
Range.--"Lower California (both coasts), north to Los Coronados
Islands." (A.O.U.)
[Illustration: 287.]
=287. Black Oyster-catcher= (_HA|matopus bachmani_). L. 17. _Ads._
Black. _Yng._ Somewhat browner. _Notes._ A musical, piping whistle.
Range.--"Pacific coast of North America from Aleutian Islands to La
Paz, Lower California."
[Illustration: 228.]
=228. American Woodcock= (_Philohela minor_). L. 11. _Ads._ Below
ochraceous-rufous; _no bars_; forehead slaty crown black with rusty
bars; back mixed black, rusty and slaty. _Notes._ A nasal _peent_ or
_paip_; a whistling of wings and a twittering whistle.
Range.--Eastern North America; breeds locally from Florida to Labrador
and Manitoba, but chiefly northward; winters from southern New Jersey
and southern Illinois to Gulf States.
[Illustration: 230.]
=230. Wilson Snipe= (_Gallinago delicata_). L. 11.2. _Ads._ Throat and
belly white or whitish; breast rusty buff indistinctly streaked; sides
_barred_; above streaked black and cream-buff; tail black and rusty;
outer feathers barred black and white. _Notes._ When taking flight
several sudden, hoarse _scaipes_; a tremulous, penetrating bleating,
thought to be produced by air rushing through the birds wings; a
_kA"k-kA"k-kA"k_. (Brewster.)
Range.--North America; breeds from northern New England (rarely
Connecticut), northern Illinois and northern California north to
Labrador, Hudson Bay, and Alaska; winters from California, southern
Illinois, and South Carolina to northern South America.
[Illustration: 261.]
=261. Bartramian Sandpiper= (_Bartramia longicauda_). L. 11.5. Outer
primary barred black and white. _Ads._ Above black, ochraceous, and
brownish gray; breast and sides with dusky arrowheads; throat and
belly whitish. _Yng._ Similar, but more buffy. _Notes._ Call, a soft,
bubbling whistle; song, a prolonged, mournful, mellow whistle,
"_chr-r-r-r-r-ee-e-e-e-e-e-oo-oo-o-oo_."
Range.--North America chiefly interior; breeds locally from Kansas and
Virginia to Alaska and Nova Scotia; winters south of United States to
South America.
[Illustration: 262.]
=262. Buff-breasted Sandpiper= (_Tryngites subruficollis_). L. 8.5.
Inner border of inner web of primaries beautifully speckled with black
and white. _Ads._ Above black widely margined with grayish brown;
below ochraceous-buff; a few black spots. _Yng._ Above blackish brown,
finely and evenly margined with whitish; below much as in adult.
Range.-"North America especially in the interior; breeds in the Yukon
district and the interior of British America north to the Arctic
coast; south in winter as far as Uruguay and Peru." (A.O.U.)
[Illustration: 281.]
=281. Mountain Plover= (_Podasocys montana_). L. 9. No black on
breast. _Ads._ Lores and crown-band black; above grayish brown washed
with pale rusty. _Yng._ Similar, but no black, rusty wash deeper.
_Winter._ Same as last but rusty paler.
Range.--Western United States; breeds from Kansas to North Dakota;
winters westward to California, south to Lower California and Mexico;
accidental in Florida.
[Illustration: 231.]
=231. Dowitcher= (_Macrorhamphus griseus_) L. 10.5; B. 2.1, pitted at
tip. _Ads._ _Rump_, _tail_, under wing-coverts, and axillars _barred_
black and white; above black margined with rusty; rump, white; below
reddish brown, spotted and barred with black. _Yng._ Similar, but
breast gray tinged with rusty; belly white. _Winter._ Above gray,
breast gray mixed with dusky, belly white.
Range.--Eastern North America; breeds chiefly north and northwest of
Hudson Bay; winters from Florida to northern South America.
[Illustration: 232.]
=232. Long-billed Dowitcher= (_Macrorhamphus scolopaceus_). B. 2.1 to
2.9. Similar to preceding but larger, bill longer; in adult spring
plumage more barred below. _Notes._ A lisping, energetic musical,
_peet-peet_; _pAe•e-ter-wAe•e-too_; _wAe•e-too_ repeated. (Nelson.)
Range.--"Western North America, breeding in Alaska to the Arctic
coast, migrating south in winter through western United States
(including Mississippi Valley) to Mexico, and less commonly along
Atlantic coast." (A.O.U.)
[Illustration: 233.]
=233. Stilt Sandpiper= (_Micropalama himantopus_). L. 8.2; tarsus
long, 1.6. _Ads._ Entire underparts and upper tail-coverts white
barred with black; tail not barred. _Yng._ Resembles ad. but below
white, breast lightly streaked: rump white no bars. _Winter._ Similar
to yng. but back gray.
Range.--Eastern North America; breeds within Arctic Circle; winters
from Florida to South America.
[Illustration: 234.]
=234. Knot= (_Tringa canutus_). L. 10.5; B. 1.3. Upper tail-coverts
with black bars and loops; tail feathers without bars narrowly
margined with white. _Ads._ Mixed black, gray and reddish brown above,
reddish brown below. _Yng._ Above gray, margined with cream-white and
black; below white; breast lightly streaked. _Winter._ Similar, but
above gray.
Range.--Northern hemisphere; breeds within Arctic circle; winters from
Florida to South America: migrates chiefly along the coasts, rare on
Pacific coast of United States.
[Illustration: 244.]
=244. Curlew Sandpiper= (_Erolia ferruginea_). L. 8; B. 1.5, slightly
curved. _Ads._ Below chestnut-rufous, above rusty and black. _Yng._
Above brownish gray margined with whitish; back blacker; below white.
_Winter._ Above plain brownish gray; below white.
Range.--"Old World in general; occasional in Eastern North America and
Alaska." (A.O.U.)
[Illustration: 235.]
=235. Purple Sandpiper= (_Arquatella maritima_). L. 9. _Ads._ Above
black, margined with rusty and cream-buff; below white, breast and
sides heavily marked with black. _Winter._ Head, neck, and breast,
slaty; back blacker, margined with slaty; central secondaries largely
white.
Range.--"Northern portions of the northern hemisphere; in North
America chiefly the northeastern portions, breeding in the high north,
migrating in winter to the Eastern and Middle States (casually to
Florida), the Great Lakes and Upper Mississippi Valley." (A.O.U.)
[Illustration: 236.]
=236. Aleutian Sandpiper= (_Arquatella couesi_). L. 8.5. Similar to
No. 235, but ad. and yng. with more ochraceous; in winter grayish
margins to back lighter and wider. _Notes._ When flying, a low, clear,
musical _tweo-tweo-tweo_; when feeding, _clA"-clA"-clA"_. (Nelson.)
Range.--"Aleutian Islands and coast of Alaska, north to Kowak River,
west to Commander Islands, Kamchatka." (A.O.U.)
[Illustration: 256.]
=256. Solitary Sandpiper= (_Helodromas solitarius_). L. 8.4. Under
wing-coverts, axillars, and all but middle tail-feathers barred black
and white. _Ads._ Above fuscous with a faint greenish tinge; head and
neck streaked, back spotted with whitish; below white; throat and
breast distinctly streaked with dusky. _Yng._ Fewer spots and streaks
above; breast markings fused. _Winter._ Practically no white markings
above.
Range.--Eastern North America; breeds from Northern States (rarely and
sporadically) northward; little known of breeding habits; winters
south of United States to South America.
=256a. Western Solitary Sandpiper= (_H. s. cinnamomeus_). Similar to
No. 256, but spots above buffy, especially in fall; inner margin of
outer primary speckled black and white.
Range.--Western North America; breeds in British Columbia (exact
breeding range unknown); winters south of United States.
[Illustration: 263.]
=263. Spotted Sandpiper= (_Actitis macularia_). L. 7.5. _Ads._ Below
white _thickly_ spotted with black; above brownish gray with a faint
greenish lustre, lightly marked with black. _Yng._ Similar above but
faintly margined with dusky and buff; below white, breast grayer; _no
black marks_. _Winter._ Same but no margins above. _Notes._
_Peet-weet_, repeated.
Range.--North America, north to Hudson Bay; breeds throughout its
North American range; winters from southern California and West Indies
to South America.
[Illustration: 284.]
=284. Black Turnstone= (_Arenaria melanocephala_). L. 9. No rusty;
lower back, longer upper tail-coverts and base of tail white; shorter
upper tail-coverts black. _Ads._ Above and breast brownish black;
belly white. _Yng._ Browner margined with whitish. _Winter._ Same as
Yng, but no margins. _Notes._ A sharp, _weet_, _weet_, _too-weet_.
(Nelson.)
Range.--"Pacific coast of North America from Point Barrow, Alaska to
Santa Margarita Island, Lower California; breeding from Alaska to
British Columbia." (A.O.U.)
[Illustration: 237.]
=237. Pribilof Sandpiper= (_Arquatella ptilocnemis_). L. 10. _Ads._
Similar to No. 236 above but crown much lighter; _breast_ with a
_black patch_. _Yng._ Resemble adult above but breast grayish
indistinctly streaked and with a pale buff band; belly white.
_Winter._ Similar to yng. but slaty gray above.
Range.--"Breeding in the Pribilof Islands, Alaska, and migrating to
coast of adjacent mainland south of Norton Sound." (A.O.U.)
[Illustration: 243a.]
=243a. Red-backed Sandpiper= (_Pelidna alpina pacifica_). L. 8;
B. 1.5; slightly curved. _Ads._ Belly black; back chiefly rusty.
_Yng._ Breast buffy, lightly streaked with dusky; belly white
_spotted_ with black; back black, rusty, and buff. _Winter._ Above
brownish gray; below white; breast grayish, indistinctly streaked.
Range.--North America; breeds in Arctic regions and winters from Gulf
States and California to South America.
[Illustration: 246.]
=246. Semipalmated Sandpiper= (_Ereunetes pusillus_). L. 6.3; B. .6
to .8. Toes webbed at base. _Ads._ Above brownish gray and black;
_little or no rusty_; below white, breast _indistinctly_ streaked.
_Yng._ Above with rusty and whitish margins; below white, breast grayish
no streaks. _Winter._ Above brownish gray with black shaft streaks;
below white. _Notes._ _weet-weet_.
Range.--Eastern North America; breeds in Arctic regions; winters from
Gulf States to South America.
[Illustration: 247.]
=247. Western Sandpiper= (_Ereunetes occidentalis_). Similar to
preceding but bill longer .8 to 1.2; ads. more rusty above, breast
streaks more distinct, and more numerous. _Notes._ Call, a soft
_weet-weet_; song, uttered on the wing, "a rapid, uniform series of
rather musical trills." (Nelson.)
Range.--North America, chiefly west of Mississippi Valley; breeds in
Arctic regions; winters from Gulf States to South America.
[Illustration: 248.]
=248. Sanderling= (_Calidris arenaria_). L. 8. Three toes, tarsus
scaled. _Ads._ Above rusty, black and grayish; below white, breast
spotted with black and _washed with rusty_. _Yng._ Nape grayish, back
_black_, feathers with _two_ white or yellowish white terminal spots;
below silky white. _Winter._ Above brownish gray with dusky shaft
streaks; below silky white.
Range.--"Nearly cosmopolitan, breeding in Arctic and Sub-Arctic
regions, migrating, in America, south to Chili and Patagonia."
(A.O.U.)
[Illustration: 238.]