470 GAME BIRDS OF CALIFORNIA. 



Marks for field identification — Small size (much smaller than that of 

 Killdeer), single black or dark brown band across chest, and a white one 

 (black- or brown-bordered) across brow, extremely short bill (much shorter 

 than head), and uniform brown upper surface. Distinguished from Killdeer 

 by much smaller size, single black or brown breast band, and absence of tawny 

 on rump; from Snowy Plover by larger size, complete band across breast, and 

 absence of dark band from bill to eye; and from Wilson Plover (which is 

 extremely rare in California) by much shorter bill, orange-colored at base instead 

 of wholly black, and by presence of black on forehead at base of bill. 



Voice — A simple sweet plaintive chee-ivee (Forbush, 1912, p. 352). 



Nest — On pebbly or sandy shores or in short grass, usually but a slight 

 distance from water; a mere depression lined sparingly with leaves and grasses 

 (Macoun and Macoun, 1909, p. 207; and authors). 



Eggs — Usually 4, pear-shaped, measuring in inches, 1.20 to 1.40 by 0.90 to 

 1.00 (30.5 to 35.5 by 22.8 to 25.4) ; ground color drab or buff, superficial mark- 

 ings blackish brown, rather few in number and scattered; deeper ones of 

 purplish slate (Baird, Brewer and Eidgway, 1884, I, p. 157; Davie, 1900, p. 155). 



General distribution — North and South America. Breeds from Melville 

 Island, Wellington Channel, and Cumberland Sound to valley of the Upper 

 Yukon, southern Mackenzie, southern Keewatin, and Gulf of St. Lawrence; 

 winters from southern California, Louisiana, and South Carolina, to Patagonia, 

 Chile and the Galapagos Islands; common in migration along Pacific coast and 

 from Nebraska and eastern Texas to the Atlantic coast (modified from A. O. 

 U. Check-list, 1910, p. 128; Cooke, 1910, pp. 88-90). 



Distribution in California — Fairly common spring and fall migrant coast- 

 wise, occurring rarely inland. Spring migration chiefly during the latter half 

 of April and first half of May. Fall migration from late August to middle of 

 October. There are two old records of winter occurrence in southern California. 



The Semipalmated Plover is a common migrant along the coast 

 of California. Differing from its nearest relatives, the Killdeer and 

 Snowy Plover, in choosing a more northern nesting ground and a more 

 southern winter home, it spends but limited parts of the year in Cali- 

 fornia and is consequently less known to bird students or hunters in 

 this state. The northward migration commences about April 10 in 

 southern California and lasts until about the middle of May (Willett, 

 1912a, p. 40). The earliest spring record other than that just given is 

 April 15, 1908 (specimen in Willett coll.), and the latest normal 

 occurrence May 16, 1910, at Santa Barbara (Bowles and Howell, 1912, 

 p. 11). Willett (loc. cit.) saw five birds and secured one at Alamitos 

 Bay, Los Angeles County, June 29, 1907. The disposition of this 

 record as concerning spring or fall transients is not now possible. 



Southbound birds were first noted at Santa Barbara, July 12, 

 1910 (Bowles and Howell, loc. cit.), but the species does not become 

 abundant until almost two months later. Along the southern coast 

 the migration occurs from the middle of September until about 

 October 10 (Willett, loc. cit.). A specimen was taken at San Pedro, 

 Los Angeles County, October 17, 1894 (Grinnell, 1898, p. 18), and 



