SANDPIPERS 



(233) Micropalama himanto-^ 

 pus 



{Bonap.) (Gr., small web strap-IegRed) 



STILT SANDPIPER. Bill slen- 

 der. Legs slender and long. Toes 

 semipalmated, the two outer ones 

 having a conspicuous webbing. Ads. 

 in summer — Plumage as shown; 

 cro\vn and ear coverts with patches 

 of chestnut; rest of upper and under 

 parts more or less washed with rusty; 

 heavily barred below; upper tail 

 coverts white, with dusky bars. 

 In winter — Gray above and white 

 below; breast more or less streaked 

 with dusky. L., 8.25; W., 5.00; 

 Tar., 1.60; B., 1.60. 



Range — Breeds in Mackenzie and 

 Keewatin. Migrates through the 

 interior, casually on the coasts to 

 West Indies and Central America. 



Mississippi River, and to breed in the extreme northwest, 

 and the common Dowitcher, which is presumed to keep on the 

 east side of that great river and nest in northern Ungava. 

 WhUe the average of those taken in the west, or at least 

 the ones selected for measurement, shows a slight increase 

 in size over the eastern ones, unfortunately the birds do not 

 always stop to measure their bills and often get on the wrong 

 side of this technical fence. They are sociable birds, usually 

 seen in small flocks, which keep closely together, both when 

 feeding and while in flight. When in the air, they have the 

 habit, shared by a number of other sandpipers, of turning so 

 as to alternately show the upper and under sides; as the 

 whole flock acts in unison, the movement is a very pretty one. 

 They are quite unsuspicious and usually allow a near ap- 

 proach to them as they feed near the water's edge — too 

 unsuspicious ofttimes for their own good. 



Flocks are also easily lured by a crude imitation of their 

 musical "peet-a-weet"' and come readily to the decoys of the 

 hidden shooter. 



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