, BLACK OYSTER CATCHER 323 



Voice. — My notes refer to the cries of this bird as loud, penetrat- 

 ing screams, sounding like whee-ujy, or wliee-ep. 

 Doctor Dall (1873) says: 



They utter, when clistuvbecl, a peculiar, low whistle ; which once heard, is 

 likely to be remembered ; and they have a habit of standing on the beach or 

 rocks a little way apart, and whistling to one another ; one calling and the 

 other answering ; and keeping it up for lialf an hour at a time. It is one of 

 the most peculiar birds of the region, in its motions, having a grave, solemn 

 and stilted gait, and bobbing its head up and down with every step. 



Winfer. — As the black oyster catcher is practically resident all 

 the year round throughout most, if not all, of its range, there is not 

 much to be said about its migrations, though there is probably some 

 shifting of individuals. Doctor Dall (1873) refers to it as a summer 

 visitor in the Aleutian Islands, but Mr. Turner (188G) records it as 

 a permanent resident there. 



DISTRIBTJTIGN 



Range. — Pacific coast of North America and Lower California. 



Breeding range. — The breeding range of the black oyster catcher 

 extends north to Alaska (Atka Island, Sange Island, St. Paul 

 Harbor, Montague Island, Hinchinbrook Island, Sitka, St. Lazaria 

 Island, probably Kuiu Island, Coronation Island, Prince of Wales 

 Island, Forrester Island, and Duke Island) ; south along the coast of 

 British Columbia (Porcher Island, Skidegate, Vancouver Island, and 

 New Westminster) ; Washington (Bellingham Bay, Waldron Island, 

 Flattery Rocks, Quillayute Needles, Destruction Island, and Copalis 

 Eock) ; Oregon (Three Arch Rock, Newport, and Bandon) ; Cali- 

 fornia (probably Prince Island, Eureka, probably the Farallon 

 Islands, Point Pinos, San Miguel Island, Santa Cruz Island, Anacapa 

 Island, San Clemente Island, and San Diego) ; and LoAver California 

 (Todos Santos, San Benito Island, Cedros Island, Natividad Island, 

 Abreojos Point, and Los Coronados Islands). 



'Winter range. — In winter, the black oyster catcher is found 

 throughout its breeding range except (normally) in Alaska and 

 (probably) northern British Columbia. It has, however, been re- 

 corded on one occasion at this season, in Alaska, St. George Island, 

 January 12, 1917 (Hanna). 



Migration. — An early date of arrival in Alaska is Unalaska Island, 

 April 29, while a late date of departure is St. Lazaria Island, Sep- 

 tember 30. 



Egg dates. — Alaska : 14 records, June 5 to 26 ; 7 records, June 13 

 to 23. British Columbia : 13 records, May 27 to June 20 ; 7 records, 

 June 6 to 12. California : 7 records. May 25 to June 10. 



