SNIPE AND SANDPIPERS: Family Scolofacidae [2.57] 



alights on fence posts, throwing the wings high overhead and uttering 

 its melodic whistle at the instant its feet touch the perch. It is not an 

 abundant bird in the State. Townsend (1839) ^ rst listed it, but it was 

 not actually found breeding until Bendire's (1877) time. He took eggs 

 between May 8 and June 16, 1876, that are now in the United States 

 National Museum. Merrill (1888) found it breeding at Fort Klamath, 

 and Willett (1919) at Malheur. In June 1930, we found a few obviously 

 breeding about the Cow Lakes in Malheur County, and we have found 

 it on a number of occasions in the Warner Lake district of Lake County 

 and regularly in Harney and Klamath Counties. There are only three 

 records known from western Oregon, where it can be considered only a 

 straggler. Anthony (Bailey 1902.) called it a rare migrant about Portland, 

 Vernon Bailey (ms. notes) noted one bird at Yaquina Bay, September 18 

 and 2.9 and October i, 1909, and there is a record of a bird taken at 

 Gresham by J. S. Stafford in October 192.4. It arrives in April and remains 

 until September (earliest date, April 15, Harney County, Fawcett; latest 

 date, October i, Lincoln County, Vernon Bailey) but is most noticeable 

 in May, June, and July. 



Greater Yellow-legs: 



Totanus melanoleucus (Gmelin) 



DESCRIPTION. "Adults in summer: Upper parts heavily mottled with black, gray, 

 and white; quills black; upper tail coverts white, tail white barred with gray; 

 under parts white, spotted on chest and barred on sides with black; throat gray, 

 streaked with dusky. Adults in winter: upper parts dark gray, finely spotted with 

 white; under parts mainly white, with fine spotting of gray on chest and throat. 

 Young: like adults in winter, but darker above and with buffy instead of white 

 spotting. Length: iz. 15-15.00, wing 7.50-7.75, bill i. 2.0-2.. 30, tarsus 1.50-1.75." 

 (Bailey) Nest: A shallow depression, lined with bits of grass. Eggs: 4, buff 

 ground color irregularly marked, chiefly about the larger end, with dark-brown 

 shade. 



DISTRIBUTION. General: Breeds from British Columbia, Quebec, and Newfoundland 

 north to Alaska, Mackenzie, Alberta, Manitoba, and Labrador. Winters from 

 Washington, eastern Oregon, Arizona, Texas, Louisiana, and Virginia south through 

 the Argentine. In Oregon: Regular but not abundant migrant throughout State. 

 Uncommon winter resident. Most abundant in April and from August to October. 



NEWBERRY (1857) reported the Greater Yellow-legs as not uncommon on 

 the Columbia River, and since that time it has been reported by many 

 observers from all parts of the State. It is a conspicuous wader, easily 

 identified by its mottled back, white tail, and bright yellow legs. Single 

 birds are likely to appear in the most isolated pools or meadows, either 

 on the desert or on the high mountains. This is particularly true of the 

 fall migration, which is a much more leisurely affair than the north- 

 ward movement. It remains occasionally in small flocks far into the 

 winter. Jewett took one on the Malheur River, December 13, 192.7, and 



