SNIPES AND SANDPIPERS: Family Scolopacidae 



G. G. Cantwell of two birds at Malheur Lake in April 1915 and a note 

 by F. M. and V. Bailey of one bird noted over that lake, August 30, 19x0, 

 the latest date for the State. The only authentic record for western 

 Oregon is a specimen taken by Braly at Portland, May 5, 1930, and now 

 in his collection. 



The Western Solitary Sandpiper can be most easily confused with the 

 Lesser Yellow-legs. It is darker, smaller, and has green legs that are 

 somewhat shorter than those of the Yellow-legs and cause it to stand 

 somewhat lower. In flight, the under surface of the wings appears 

 blackish and the tail looks white with a dark center instead of pure white, 

 as in the Yellow-legs. If a close approach is possible, the cinnamon- 

 colored spots on the back can be distinguished as quite different from the 

 black and white markings of the Yellow-legs. 



Wandering Tattler: 



Heteroscelus incanus (Gmelin) 



DESCRIPTION. "Web between middle and outer toes, but not between middle and 

 inner; bill straight and slender, longer than tarsus; tarsus equal to length of middle 

 toe and claw. Adults in summer: upper parts plain slaty or plumbeous gray; under 

 parts thickly barred with white and dusky, becoming more spotted on throat and 

 pure white on anal region. Adults in winter: middle of belly and chin white; chest, 

 sides, and upper parts gray. Young: like winter adults but with fine specks and 

 narrow scallops of white on wings and back. Length: 10.50-11.30, wing 6.50-7.30, 

 bill 1.50-1.60, tarsus 1.2.5-1.35." (Bailey) Nest: A depression in the ground, lined 

 with fine roots and twigs. Eggs: 4, greenish ground color, spotted and blotched 

 with dark brown. 



DISTRIBUTION. General: Breeds in Alaska. Winters from Oregon southward along 

 coast and also on Pacific islands and Asiatic coast. In Oregon: Regular and fairly 

 common spring and fall migrant and probably a rare wintering bird. Away from 

 coast, only a rare straggler. 



THE STRIKING Wandering Tattler frequents the rocky headlands and off- 

 shore rocks along the Oregon coast, where it obtains its food from among 

 the abundant marine life associated with the mussels and barnacles that 

 are exposed at low tide. At high tide it may occasionally be found 

 perched on some convenient shelf high above the surging waters, but its 

 colors blend so well with the rocky background that it is difficult to 

 detect as long as it remains motionless. Birds taken in July and August 

 occasionally retain the handsome heavily barred under parts of the spring 

 plumage, though most of them even this early have donned the gray and 

 white winter garb. In behavior they remind one of the Solitary or Spotted 

 Sandpipers, nervously bobbing their bodies and twitching their tails as 

 they feed over the rocks exposed by the ebb tide. These birds are usually 

 solitary or appear at most in twos or threes. When startled, they fly away 

 with sharp piercing calls that cut clearly through the thunder of the surf. 



