52 



PACIFIC COAST AVIFAUNA 



No. 14 



86. Actitis macularia (Linnaeu.s) 



Spotted Sandpiper 



An extremely aliiuuhint snnimer resident throiigliont the state, breeds 

 along- rivers and streams in the prairies and valleys, about the shores of lakes, 

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

 reports from all jiarts 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 Jlay 27, 1910, contained an egg ready to Ih' deposited (Bailey, JIS). This is 

 the only indication of nesting in May. The earliest nest recoi'ded is June 4, 1901, 

 at Lewistown (Silloway, 1903a, p. 20 K Other dates of nesting are June 18 to 



Fig. 13. Nest ami i;i, 



PIPER. CnOTKAl' 



10, 1912. 



s oi I lu; Si'oTTi.ii Sami- 

 Teton' Cou>:ty; Ju.nk 



27, 1900, at Flathead Lake (Silloway, 1901a, pp. .32-^3) ; Lake Bowdoin, June 



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 have 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- 

 eron, 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, 1912a, p. 24 and 1914a, p. 130); Bitterroot V'alley May 12, 

 1911, May 17, 1912, and May 8, 1913 (Bailey, MS). Fall departure evidently 



