52 



PACIFIC COAST AVIFAUNA 



No. 14 



86. Actitis macularia (Linnaeus) 



Spotted Sandpiper 



An extremely al)un(lant sinnmer resident throughout the state. Bi-ceds 

 along rivers and streams in the prairies and valh^vs, about the shores of lakes, 

 and up into the mountains to the limit of the Canadian zone. Practically all 

 reports from all parts of the state contain references to this bird and its breed- 

 ing. 



The species nests principally in June. A bird taken in the Bitterroot Valley 

 on May 27, 1910, contained an egg ready to be deposited (Bailey, IMS). This is 

 the only indication of niisting in May. The earliest nest recorded is June 4, 1901, 

 at Lewistown (Silioway, 190;^a, p. 20). Other dates of nesting are June 18 to 



Fig. 13. Nest and kchis ok tuk Spottkd Sand- 

 piper. Choteau, Teton County; June 

 10, 1912. 



27, 1900, at Flathead Lake (Silioway, J!)Ola, pp. ;i2-.iS) ; Lake Bowdoin, Jum- 



28, 1903 (Willett, 1907, p. 105). An egg has been found freshly laid in the nest 

 as late as June 29, 1915, at Flathead Lake. Downy young hav(^ been found in 

 Teton County as early as June 22, 1912 (Saunders, 1914a, p. 130) and young 

 able to fly in Powell County, as early as July 31, 1910 (Saunders, 1912a, p. 24). 



Spring migration comes about the middle of May, somewhat earlier west of 

 the continental divide. Dates are as follows: Columbia Falls, earliest May 4, 

 1896, average May 7 (Cooke, 1910a, p. 70) ; Custer County, May 18, 1905 (Cam- 

 ei-on, 1907, p. 254) ; Gallatin County, May 21, 1909, German Gulch, Silver Bow 

 County, May 28, 1910, Anaconda, May 17, 1911, and Teton County, May 17, 

 1912 (Saunders, 19r2a, ]). 24 and 1914a, p. 130); Bitterroot Valley May 12, 

 Dll, May 17, 1912, and xMay 8, 1913 (P.ailey, ^IS). Fall departure evidently 



