103 



Distribution. Breeds in high latitudes across the continent. In the east, south 

 to Anticosti island and the north shore of the gulf of St. Lawrence; common in migrations 

 throughout eastern Canada. 



The Greater Yellow-legs is one of the best known Shore Birds. Owing 

 to its size and comparative numbers it is much sought after by sportsmen 

 and it seems to have withstood their attacks better than many other 

 apparently equally well-adapted species. It prefers marshy shores and 

 mud to open sand and may be seen far out on the flats wading about, thigh 

 deep, in water too deep for smaller waders. Its clear flute-like tremolo 

 whistle in a descending scale is a sound to accelerate the pulse of any true 

 sportsman or bird student. This species does not seem as numerous and 

 is certainly more wary than the Lesser Yellow-legs; otherwise this descrip- 

 tion will do for both. 



255. Lesser Yellow-legs. LITTLE TELL-TALE. FR. LE PETIT CHEVALIER A PIEDS 

 JAUNES. Totanus flavipes. L, 10-75. Smaller edition of the last species. 



Distribution. Breeds across the continent, in high latitudes. A common migrant 

 throughout eastern Canada. 



Genus Tringa. Solitary Sandpiper. 



256. Solitary Sandpiper. FR. LE CHEVALIER SOLITAIRE. L'ALOUETTE SOLITAIRE. 

 Tringa solitaria. L, 8-40. Upperparts dark, almost black, with a slight greenish lustre 

 accented by comparatively few small white spots; underparts and throat, white; lower 

 neck, breast-band, and sides of flanks striped or barred with lighter shades of back 

 colour; no tinge of buff or other shades. 



Distinctions. Size and general coloration; the white, dark-barred axillars are con- 

 clusive. 



Field Marks. Resembles both the Spotted Sandpiper and the Lesser Yellow-legs. 

 Distinguished from the former by the lack of a white line on the spread wing and the 

 conspicuously white barring on the tail; and from the latter by size, and black instead 

 of white rump. 



Nesting. For a long time the breeding habits of this species were unknown and the 

 problem of its nesting was not solved until it was discovered that it used the deserted 

 nests of perching birds in trees and bushes. The closely allied Green Sandpiper of Europe 

 has the same habit. 



Distribution. Breeds northward from well within the limits of cultivation; fairly 

 common throughout eastern Canada as migrant. 



SUBSPECIES. The Solitary Sandpiper is represented by two subspecies in Canada, 

 only one of which, the Eastern Solitary, the type form, occurs in the east. 



As implied by the name, this species is a rather solitary bird, being 

 found as single individuals and pairs rather than in flocks even in migration 

 time. It is a mud haunter and with the Spotted Sandpiper is the only 

 Wader that is commonly seen about such small waters as drainage ditches, 

 or along the edges of flooded woods. 



Genus Catoptrophorus. Willet. 



258. Willet. FR. LE CHEVALIER SEMI-PALME. Catoptrophorus semipalmatus. L, 

 15. A large Shore Bird; upperparts buffy grey marked with dark brown; underparts, 

 white suffused with light greyish buff; barred and striped with darker grey on flanks, 

 breast, and foreneck; rump white. 



Distinctions. Size, general lightness and greyness of coloration, conspicuous white 

 wing-bar across primaries, white rump, and black axillars. The characteristic Sandpiper 

 bill will distinguish the Willet from the Black-billed Plover which has -also these rump 

 and axillar details. 



Field Marks. In size it resembles the Godwits more than anything else, but ashy 

 greyness and the conspicuous black and white wings are distinctive. 



