FAMILY SCOLOPACIDAE 4OI 



narrowly with white ; flanks and under tail coverts barred with black. 



Fall and winter plumage, similar but grayer above, with streaks 

 on lower surface less distinct. 



The solitary sandpiper is the most widely distributed species among 

 the northern migrants of its family that come to Panama, as it may be 

 found about any small fresh-water pool, and is encountered also along 

 rivers wherever there are open channels. These birds range in suit- 

 able places into the lower mountains. As the name indicates, they do 

 not congregate in bands, but in periods of migration, or on especially 

 attractive feeding grounds, they may be found in scattered company. 



They tilt the forepart of the body constantly as they walk, whether 

 in water an inch or so deep, or on the shore. When flushed they rise 

 quickly, and fly swiftly, often with a sharp call note. It is common 

 for them to dart away, and then turn to come back and drop again 

 close by. 



The two forms of the species are both known in Panama. 



TRINGA SOLITARIA SOLITARIA Wilson 



Tringa solitaria Wilson, Amer. Orn., vol. 7, 1813, p. 53, pi. 8, fig. 3. (Pocono 

 Mountains, Pennsylvania.) 



CJwracters. — Blacker, more dusky olive above ; a well-defined dark 

 streak on the lores ; smaller in size. Wing, males, 121.5-129; females 

 126-134 mm. 



Measurements (from Ridgway, I.e., pp. 358-359). — Males, wing 

 121.5-129.5 (126.5), tail 50-57 (53.7), exposed culmen 27.0-30.5 

 (28.8), tarsus 28-31 (29.9) mm. 



Females, wing 126-134 (127.8), tail 52-59 (55.4), exposed culmen 

 28-32 (29.3), tarsus 27.0-32.5 (29.4) mm. 



Migrant from the north. Common throughout the mainland 

 around fresh-water pools, and along the rivers. Present from August 

 to April. 



There is one record for July 29, 1929, at Perme, San Bias (Griscom, 

 Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., vol. 72, 1932, p. 322), but the majority ar- 

 rive from the north after the middle of August. They remain com- 

 monly until mid-April, sometimes somewhat later, as I saw them in 

 1947 on the Rio Jaque, Darien, until April 19. They appear regularly 

 at the lakes at an elevation of 1280 meters near El Volcan in 

 Chiriqui. 



This race nests from southeastern Yukon and Labrador, south to 

 eastern British Columbia and eastern Ontario. It is found in winter 

 from northeastern Mexico, Louisiana, and Florida, to Argentina. 



