BAIRD'S SANDPIPER 151 



BAIRD'S SANDPIPER. 



(Actodromas bairdii.) 



Though probably not so rare here as com- 

 monly supposed, this sandpiper is nowhere 

 numerous along the coast of North America. 

 It is generally distributed throughout the in- 

 terior of our country, and while very rare on 

 the Pacific coast of North America south of 

 Alaska, is said to be a regular visitor to the 

 west coast of South America. 



This variety differs but little in its habits and 

 mode of life from our better known ' ' peeps ' ' ex- 

 cept that as a rule it travels in smaller flocks 

 and is less dependent on mud flats or marsh 

 for its living. It is as much at home in the 

 mountain pasture or prairie land as anywhere, 

 and like the ''upland," is content to dwell in 

 the highlands, far from ordinary shorebird 

 haunts. In such places its food is of grasshop- 

 pers, bugs and berries. In the east, Baird's 

 Sandpiper is found in the company of any of 

 our own varieties. 



This bird breeds in the Arctic regions arriv- 

 ing early on the the nesting grounds, and laying 



