360 GAME BIRDS OF CALIFORNIA 



Massachusetts southward; occurs also on eastern coast of Siberia (modified 

 from A. O. U. Check-list, 1910, p. 111). 



Distribution in California — Common spring and fall migrant coastwise 

 and in valleys west of the Sierras. Has occurred as a winter visitant, though 

 irregularly, at San Diego (Belding, MS); at "Santa Ana, Orange County (Grin- 

 nell, MS); "Wilmington, Los Angeles County (Stephens coll.); and as far north 

 as Los Banos, Merced County, November to March (specimens in Mus. Vert. 

 Zool., and Beck, MS). In migration becomes abundant about second week 

 in April and continues so until about mid-May. In fall first appears about 

 last of July, and is found in varying numbers up to first week in November. 



The Long-billed Dowitcher is the "Jack Snipe" of the seashore. 

 It is a breeding species along the northern coast of Alaska and winters 

 in the Gnlf region and Mexico. It occurs within our confines chiefly 

 as a migrant, rarely remaining as a winter visitant. Belding (MS) 

 states that it is a rare irregular winter visitant at San Diego, and Grin- 

 nell (MS) has record of its presence in numbers at Santa Ana, Orange 

 County, January 25, 1893. F. Stephens has one taken at Wilming- 

 ton, Los Angeles County, December 4, 1879. In the San Joaquin 

 Valley in the vicinity of Los Banos, Merced County, the species was 

 found in varying numbers by Beck throughout the winter of 1911-12, 

 being taken December 9, 1911, January 2 and March 6 and 22, 1912 

 (specimens in Mus. Vert. Zool.). Lamb (1912, p. 35) took a specimen 

 9 miles east of Daggett, San Bernardino County, February 24, 1911. 

 Two males were taken at Olema, Marin County, March 9, 1882 (coll. 

 J. and J. W. Mailliard). The earliest coastal record is for Santa 

 Barbara, March 10, 1910 (Bowles and Howell, 1912, p. 8\ It 

 becomes abundant during the second week in April and continues so 

 until about the first week in May, the last birds being seen about the 

 middle of the month. The latest spring record is for May 13 (1914), 

 at Los Banos (H. C. Bryant, MS). Goldman (1908&, p. 203) noted 

 a flock at Tulare Lake, July 8, 1907 ; but the birds examined were 

 not in breeding condition, and probably represented early fall mi- 

 grants. Ilenshaw (1876, p. 271) noted the species at Kern Lake, 

 Kern County, in August. The breeding birds and young from the 

 north appear along the coast in numbers about the first of September 

 and continue to be seen from the latitude of San Francisco soutli- 

 Avard until the first or second week of November. The numbers of 

 Dowitchers present is probably never very large, although a flock of 

 as many as 200 has been seen at one time. The species is more often 

 noted in flocks of six to two dozen individuals. 



The Long-billed Dowitcher may be distinguished from other waders 

 by its medium size, long bill (fig. 65), by the absence of distinct stripes 

 on its back, by its white rump and wing bars, open flock formation 

 when feeding, and erratic flight. In late spring and summer it may 

 be easily distinguished by the reddish coloration of its under surface ; 



