432 GAME BIRDS OF CALIFOHNIA 



Voice — A clear high-pitched wheel, xrlieet, ivheet, uttered six or seven times 

 at half -second intervals, often with descending inflection; also pr-r-r-r-ret, or 

 ter-r-r-r-ret. 



Nest — On gravelly ground usually in close vicinity of water, or else in 

 wet meadow; a slight depression sparsely lined with grasses and plant stems; 

 or altogether lacking any special lining. 



Eggs — 4, pear-shaped, measuring in inches, 1.24 to 1.37 by 0.87 to 0.97 (in 

 millimeters, 31.5 to 34.7 by 22.2 to 24.8), and averaging 1.28 by 0.93 (32.6 by 

 23.6) (six sets, 24 eggs, from California and Alaska) ; ground-color pale cream 

 or varying shades of buff; superficial spots reddish or blackish brown, varying 

 in size from that of a pin-point to 0.12 inch (3 mm.) or more in diameter, 

 usually larger and more numerous about larger end where they are often 

 aggregated into blotches; deeper markings lavender or pale gray and usually 

 small. 



General distribution — North and South America. Breeds on the north to 

 Newfoundland, northern Ungava, northern Mackenzie and the Kowak Valley, 

 Alaska, and on the south to northern South Carolina, central Alabama, southern 

 Louisiana, central Texas, southern New Mexico, central Arizona, and south- 

 central California; winters from southern California, Louisiana and South 

 Carolina south to central Peru and southern Brazil (modified from A. O. U. 

 Check-list, 1910, p. 124). 



Distribution in California — Abundant migrant in suitable localities through- 

 out the state; also winters in moderate numbers along rocky portions of the 

 seacoast and adjacent island shores from Santa Barbara southward. Remains 

 through the summer and breeds locally in the Sierras as far south at least as 

 Cottonwood Lakes (11,000 feet altitude), Inyo County (Mus. Vert. Zool.), and 

 in the lake region east of the Sierran divide from Alpine County northward 

 to the Oregon line. Breeds also, but more sparingly and locally, along larger 

 streams of the coast region south as far as Santa Paula, Ventura County 

 (Willett, 1912a, p. 39). Spring migration apparently occurs in late April, May 

 and June, and fall migration from mid-July into September. A few scattered 

 individuals winter in the Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys. 



The Spotted Sandpiper is one of the most widely distributed of 

 North American shore birds. Indeed it has a more extensive breed- 

 ing range than has any other American shore bird, in this respect 

 rivaling the Killdeer. To many people, the Tip-up or Teeter-tail as 

 this well-known bird is often called, is one of the most familiar of water 

 birds. The sandy shores of inland or even mountain streams and 

 lakes, and the rocky seacoast, seem equally to attract it at various times 

 of the year. At times, especially during the summer, it may be 

 observed in distinctly dry situations such as a meadow, or on freshly 

 plowed ground, but this is exceptional. From many of its relatives 

 the Spotted Sandpiper differs markedly in being quite solitary. It 

 is found singly or in pairs rather than in flocks, though in the late 

 summer and fall while the young are yet dependent, family flocks 

 of at most five or six birds are to be noted. 



Throughout most of the lowland areas of California this bird is 

 but a migrant, but in the coastal district from Santa Barbara south- 

 eastward it occurs in limited numbers during the winter months. 



