34 BULLETIN 142, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



Behavior. — Much of the interesting behavior of the Wilson phala- 

 ropes has been described under different headings above. In all its 

 movements it is light, airy and graceful. Its flight is much like 

 that of the lesser yellow legs, with which it is often associated ; but, 

 when suddenly alarmed, it sometimes flies hurriedly away in a zig- 

 zag fashion. On its breeding grounds it often hovers, almost motion- 

 less in the air, as the upland plover sometimes does. It swims lightly 

 and buoyantly, but apparently does not dive. It walks about on 

 land actively and daintly, where it is said to resemble the solitary 

 sandpiper. It mingles freely on its feeding grounds with various 

 other species of shore birds. Toward the close of the nesting season 

 the females become very gregarious ; as early as June 18, in southern 

 Alberta, we saw them in large flocks, mixed with lesser yellow legs, 

 flying about the marshy lakes. 



Voice. — The only note I have recorded is a soft, nasal grunt or 

 subdued quack. Dr. Walter P. Taylor (1912) describes a peculiar 

 nuptial (?) call note " as oit, oit, oit, somewhat resembling the croak 

 of a toad during the breeding season. At the instant of utterance 

 of the note the bird which is calling raises its head somewhat, pauses 

 momentarily in its flight, and its throat bulges slightly." Mr. Saun- 

 ders calls it a low note sounding like croo, croo, croo. 



E. S. Cameron (1907) writes:' 



The Wilson's phalaropes, both when feeding and when disturbed and circling 

 on the wing, constantly uttered a low croaking, which at close quarters might 

 be compared to the much louder note of the sandhill cranes, or, at a distance, 

 to the faintly heard barking of a dog. On the other hand, I have heard them 

 give a shrill and totally different call of indecision or satisfaction on their first 

 arrival when hovering over a pool. 



Field marks. — The Wilson is larger than the other phalaropes and 

 has a longer bill, neck, and legs. It can be distinguished from other 

 shore birds by its needlelike bill and small head and by the absence 

 of white in its wings. Its spring plumage is, of course, well marked 

 and very beautiful. John T. Nichols gives me the following field 

 characters : 



Very rare, but apparently regular on the south shore of Long Island in 

 southward migration ; those that I have known of have all been in pale gray 

 and white plumage occurring singly about the marshes in flocks of the lesser 

 yellow legs. Little smaller than that species, they are to be picked out in a 

 flock of same at once by their much paler color. In alighting such a bird may 

 swim on puddles of water between the stubble where the others are wading. 

 At short range the long, straight, very slender bill and indications of a curved 

 " phalarope " mark on the neck, backward and downward from the eye, are to 

 be looked for. Large size and long, very slender bill should prevent confusion 

 of this with other phalaropes in the field in any plumage. 



Fall. — As soon as the young are able to care for themselves the 

 males join the flocks of females and they all depart on their fall 



