152 ■ KILL DEER 



looks so like dead leaves herself that it is hard to see 

 her. 



Spotted Sandpiper; Tilt-up: Actitis uiaciilaria. , 



Length 7^ inches. 



Olive-brown above, white below, spotted all over with round 

 black spots. Young without spots below. 



Very long legs and long bill. 



Resident (uncommon) from April 5 to September 3; more 

 abundant in winter. 



This pretty little Sandpiper will be known by his 

 distinctly spotted plumage, and also by the peculiar 

 tilting- of his body when on the ground. When flying 

 he often sails for a short distance and then his long, 

 narrow wings show a white band. He calls pcct wect 

 as he flies. 



He is likely to be found anywhere along streams, 

 and is commonly seen by Rock Creek in the Zoologi- 

 cal Park. 



The nest is on the ground, frequently in planted 

 fields near water. The eggs, 4, are buff, nuich spotted 

 and speckled with brown. 



Killdeer : ^gialitis vocifcra. 



Length loj^ inches. 



Upper parts grayish-brown and rusty; forehead, throat, 

 collar and wing-patches white. 



Upper tail bright orange-brown; tail-feathers tipped with 

 black and white. 



Under parts white, two black bands across the breast. 

 Long yellowish legs. 



Resident all the year; abundant only in migration. 



Killdeer are usually seen in small flocks in ploughed 

 or grassy fields. They have a characteristic way of 

 running rapidly over the ground hunting worms and 

 grasshoppers, and when startled take wing with a 



