STILT SANDPIPER 125 



Adults have a partial prenuptial molt in April and May, involving 

 the body plumage, most of the scapulars, and some of the wing 

 coverts and tertials. The complete postnuptial molt begins sometimes 

 during the first week in July and sometimes not until the last of that 

 month, and is completed in about two months, including the wings. 

 A specimen taken in Argentina on September 21 had renewed the 

 wings and practically all of the body plumage. In winter plumage 

 the upper parts are brownish gray, with narrow, light edgings; the 

 sides of the head and the under parts are white, with little or no 

 barring; there is a dark streak through the eye, but no rusty on the 

 head. 



Food. — Audubon (1840) watched a flock of about 30 stilt sand- 

 pipers feeding, of which he writes : 



I saw a flock of about 30 long-legged sandpipers alight within 10 steps of me, 

 near the water. They immediately scattered, following the margin of the retir- 

 ing and advancing waves, in search of food, which I could see them procure 

 by probing the wet sand in the manner of curlews, that is, to the full length of 

 their bill, holding it for a short time in the sand, as if engaging in sucking up 

 what they found. In this way they continued feeding on an extended line of 

 shore of about 30 yards, and it was pleasing to see the alacrity with which 

 they simultaneously advanced and retreated, according to the motions of the 

 water. In about three-quarters of an hour, during all which time I had 

 watched them with attention, they removed a few yards beyond the highest 

 wash of the waves, huddled close together, and began to plume and cleanse 

 themselves. In the stomachs of several individuals I found small worms, minute 

 shellfish, and vegetable substances, among which were the hard seeds of plants 

 unknown to me. 



N. B. Moore watched a stilt sandpiper feeding in Florida and 

 says in his notes : 



It alighted within 20 feet of me and commenced feeding at once, in water 

 that nearly covered the tarsi. I was surprised to see it slowly step along, 

 carrying its bill immersed nearly up to the base, and sweeping it slowly from 

 side to side, much in the manner of the roseate spoonbills, which were at the 

 same moment feeding near by. I noticed no action like that of swallowing 

 at any time, its motions being continuous — as described — until I shot it to 

 make sure of the species. 



Stuart T. Danforth (1925) says of the food of this species in 

 Porto Rico : 



Seven stomachs (five collected on August 20 and two on September 17) 

 were available for examination. Animal matter composed 70.1 per cent of 

 the food, and vegetable matter of 29.9 per cent. Bloodworms (Chironomid 

 larvae) were the largest food item, forming 72.8 per cent of the animal food. 

 From 150 to 600 bloodworms were found in all but two of the stomachs. 

 Dytiscid larvae formed 15.5 per cent, small Planorbis snails 7.1 per cent, and 

 mosquito larvae 0.8 per cent of the animal matter. The vegetable matter was 

 composed of seeds. Seeds of Persicaria formed 80 per cent of the vegetable 

 matter ; seeds of Scsban cmcrug 7 per cent ; seeds of Compositae 10.2 per cent, 

 and rubbish 2.8 per cent. 



