Pectoral Sandpiper (I'isohiu niacniatu) 



Ranfjc: Breeds on the Arctic coast frcjin iiortlicrn Alaska l<j mouth of 

 Yukon and northeastern Mackenzie; winters in South Anieriea from Peru and 

 l?oHvia to northern Chile, Arjjentina, and central l'ataj,Mjnia. 



The "grass l)ird." or "krieker," does not share the predilecti(jn of many 

 of its relatives for the sea beach, hut prefers mud Hats and marshes. In late 

 fall the grass on the salt-water marshes is high enough to hide the krieker, 

 and yet not oflfer resistance to its progress, and it is suri)rising how difficult 

 it is U) see one as it stands motionless watching the enemy with unalarmed 

 eyes. This sandpij)er arrives on the IJcring Sea coast to breed in May, and 

 Xelson's account of its song will surprise those who know the species only 

 when migrating. Si)eaking of a night passed in the Yukon delta, he says: 

 "As my eyelids began to dr(»op and the scene to become indistinct, suddenly 

 a low. hollow, booming note struck my ear. Again the sound arose nearer 

 and more distinct, and with an effort 1 brought myself back to the reality of 

 my position and, resting upon one elbow, listened. A few seconds passed and 

 again arose the note ; a moment later and, gun in hand, I stood outside the 

 tent. The open tlat extended away on all sides, with apparently not a livin"- 

 creature near. ( )nce again the note was repeated close l)y, and a glance 

 revealed its author. Standing in the thin grasses ten or fifteen yards from 

 me, with its throat inflated until it was as large as the rest of the bird, was a 

 male .i. maciilata. The note is deep, hollow, and resonant, but at the same 

 time liquid and musical, and may be represented by a repetition '■•' t'^^- sylla- 

 bles too-u, too-u. too-u. too-u. too-u, too-u, too-u, too-u." 



White-Winged Scoter {Oidcmia dcrjiamU) 



Range : Breeds from the coast of northeastern Siberia, northern Alaska, 

 :iorthern Mackenzie, and northern Ungava south to central British Columbia. 

 Alberta, northern North Dakota, and southern Quebec ; winters on the Asiatic 

 coast to Bering Island, Japan, and China, and in Xorth America from 

 I'nalaska Island to San Quintin Bay, Lower California, the Great Lakes, and 

 the Atlantic coast from the (iulf of St. Lawrence south (rarely) to Florida; 

 non-breeding birds occur in summer as far south as Rhode Island and Mon- 

 terey, California. 



The general habits of this scoter correspond closely with those of its 

 relatives. It winters in great numbers in company with other roots on the 

 coasts of the New England and Middle States, and also along our west coast, 

 especially in Oregon and Washington. Scoters are denizens of the sea and 

 are almost as much at home there as the fish, crustaceans, and shell fish upon 

 which they feed. So large are some of the shell fish that have been found in 

 their stomachs that it is difficult to understand how the birds manage to 

 swallow them. 



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