Trees, Stars, and Birds 



Finley & Bohlman 

 FIG. 237. A baby spotted sandpiper. 



the bird is likely to es- 

 cape notice except when 

 it moves. Its under parts 

 are white, spotted with 

 black in the adult birds. 



The spotted sandpiper 

 may be known from birds 

 of other orders by its long 

 legs, slender beak, and 

 its habit of bobbing or 

 teetering as it stands or 

 wades in shallow water. It is called " tip-up," " teeter- 

 tail," or, from its note, " peet-weet." Read Celia 

 Thaxter's poem, " One Little Sandpiper and I." 



The Bartramian sandpiper. The Bartramian sand- 

 piper is often called " upland plover." Which name, 

 sandpiper or plover, do you consider more appropriate 

 for it? The long, bare legs show that it is one of the 

 water birds, but it lives in cornfields, stubble fields, 

 pastures, and prairies rather than about large bodies of 

 water. Being highly prized as a table delicacy, it has 

 been hunted until few individuals remain. But it de- 

 serves protection, for it feeds on weed seeds and insects, 

 including those that injure corn, cowpeas, clover, cotton, 

 and other crops. 



In alighting, this sandpiper stretches its wings high 

 over its back. When flushed it utters a soft, bubbling 

 whistle. The song, given from the ground or a fence, 

 will thrill any lover of nature who is fortunate enough 

 to hear it, ch-rrrr-ee-e-e-e-e-e-oo-o-o-o-o-oo. " This pro- 

 longed, mournful, mellow whistle, more like the whistling 



