BIRDS OF OREGON 



distinctly marked with a white spot on the forehead, a black crescent above it and 

 a black triangle below it, partially concealed by brown tips; there is a distinct 

 black loral stripe, extending faintly beyond the eye, and a less distinct black malar 

 stripe; between these two is a conspicuous, large, white, cheek patch. The chin 

 and upper throat are 'light ochraceous buff'; below this on the lower throat is a 

 large sooty-black area, partially concealed by brown tips, these 'tawny' brown 

 tips predominating on the breast and flanks, and shading off to 'pale pinkish cinna- 

 mon* on the belly." (Bent) Si%e: "Length 10.50-11.15, wing 4.90-5.60, bill 1.50- 

 1.70, tarsus 1. 10-1.30." (Bailey) Nest: A slight depression in the ground, lined 

 with grass. Eggs: Usually 4, rarely 3 or 5, olive gray or buff, heavily spotted and 

 blotched with dark brown. 



DISTRIBUTION. General: Breeds from Yukon River, Mackenzie, northern Ontario, 

 Ungava, and Newfoundland south to Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, 

 Colorado, Utah, and northern California. Winters regularly from Washington, 

 British Columbia, Wyoming, Colorado, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Alabama, and Vir- 

 ginia southward into South America and occasionally farther north about Warm 

 Springs. In Oregon: Permanent resident that breeds in suitable places throughout 

 State and winters wherever open water prevails. More common in summer east of 

 Cascades and more abundant in winter west of that range. 



WILSON'S SNIPE, or Jacksnipe (Plate 39, A), was first seen in the territory 

 now included in Oregon by Lewis and Clark (1814) in 1805-06 and was 

 next recorded by Townsend (1839). Newberry (1857) found it common 

 about the Klamath Lakes. Cassin (Baird, Cassin, and Lawrence 1858) 

 listed a bird from Fort Dalles on November 16, and Suckley (1860) stated 

 that several wintered there in 1854-55. Merrill (1888) first recorded it 

 as a breeding bird from Fort Klamath, the territory where it still breeds 

 most commonly in the State. Nearly every writer since then has men- 

 tioned the species as a breeding or wintering bird. There are definite 

 breeding records for Klamath (Merrill; Jewett, 4 nests, May 15-31; Braly, 

 3 nests, May 10-17; Patterson, 2. nests, May 2.0 and 2.4; Furber; and 

 numerous others); Douglas (Hardy); Multnomah (Finley); Marion (John- 

 son); Linn (Prill); Lake (Prill); Malheur (Becker and Preble); and Benton 

 (Woodcock) Counties, and it doubtless breeds in many other counties 

 where swampy ground is found. 



It winters sparingly in eastern Oregon. Our own notes show winter 

 records for Umatilla (December 10), Deschutes (several, January), Kla- 

 math (December 10, January 2.5), Wallowa (January 16, February 10), 

 and Malheur (January 3) Counties, and the published literature contains 

 winter records for Harney (February 15) and Wasco (all winter) Counties. 

 Other winter records in the manuscript notes of Biological Survey mem- 

 bers are for Klamath (January 9, Furber), Harney (Malheur Lake, Decem- 

 ber 18, 1913), and Jackson (January 15, Heckner) Counties. The last 

 bird was in a small spring-fed meadow on the slopes of Mount McLough- 

 lin at about 5,000 feet altitude. Winter records west of the Cascades are 

 numerous and from every section of the territory. 



This plump-bodied, long-billed, brown bird, exploding from the ground 



