Shore Birds 



226. Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus). 



L. 15; Tar 4.10. Ad. <$. Forehead, lower hack. 

 and underparts white; crown, hindneck, upper back, 

 and wings black. Ad. 9. Similar, but upper back 

 and scapulars grayish brown. Yng. Similar to $, 

 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. 



286. American Oyster-catcher {Hcemalopus pallia- 

 tus). L. 19. Ads. Base of tail and longer upper 

 tail-coverts white, shorter coverts and all back black- 

 ish 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 L'nited 

 States to South America; casual north to Nova Scotia. 



286.1. Frazar Oyster-catcher [Hcrmatopus fra- 

 {ari). 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.) 



287. Black Oyster-catcher {Hcematopus backmant). 

 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." 



104 



