418 GAME BIRDS OF CALIFOBNIA 



Distribution in California — Bather abundant spring and fall migrant, 

 chiefly coastwise; remains through the winter in small numbers along the 

 coast. A few summer regularly in the northeastern corner of the state: breeds 

 at Beckwith, Plumas County (Cooke, 1910, p. 62), and in vicinity of Goose 

 Lake, Modoc County (Mus. Vert. Zool.). Recorded in winter from Humboldt 

 Bay, San IPrancisco Bay region, and from several localities on coast of southern 

 California from Santa Barbara southward; spring migration, when but few 

 birds are observed, occurs chiefly during April and May, and fall migration, 

 which is conspicuous, from latter part of July until late October or early 

 November. Non-breeders are often seen on or near southern seacoast during 

 summer months. 



Of the shore birds inhabiting California the Western Willet is 

 one of the largest and most conspicuous. Its shrill call and the flashes 

 of its contrasted black, white, and gray plumage, either in flight or 

 at rest, are among the familiar sights granted persons who frequent 

 the seashore or salt marsh. 



Willets are present in California throughout the year although not 

 continuously in the same localities. The species has been recorded as 

 breeding at Beckwith, Plumas County (Cooke, 1910, p. 62) ; and birds 

 seen about Goose Lake, Modoc County, early in June, 1910, showed 

 evidence of having nests in the vicinity (W. P. Taylor, MS). It has 

 been recorded at Humboldt Bay in November and December (C. H. 

 Townsend, 1887, p. 199) ; about San Francisco Bay on November 4, 

 1898, and November 17, 1895 (specimens in Mailliard collection), and 

 in December, 1855 (Cassin, 1862, p. 321) ; at Carpinteria, Santa Bar- 

 bara County, December 23, 1911 (Willett, 1912a., p. 38) ; at Newport, 

 Orange County, December 8, 1898 (specimen in Swarth collection) ; 

 and at and about San Diego, common through the winter (Belding, 

 MS). The spring migration occurs during April and May, during 

 which months a few pass through the San Joaquin-Sacramento Valley 

 (Belding, MS) as well as along the seacoast. A few individuals linger 

 behind the northbound migrants, as single birds were seen at Santa 

 Barbara, June 24 and July 8, 1910 (Torrey, 1910&, p. 204), and at 

 Nigger Slough, Los Angeles County, May 17 and 28, June 2 and July 

 10, 1910 (Willett, 1912a,, p. 38). The southward migration is the 

 more conspicuous and commences the latter part of July and con- 

 tinues until the latter part of October or first of November. The early 

 nesting season makes it possible for young birds to appear on the coast 

 as migrants by the latter part of July. Birds-of-the-year which were 

 evidently migrants were observed and collected at Bear Lake, 6,700 

 feet altitude, San Bernardino Mountains, July 28 to August 2, 1905 

 (Grinnell, 1908, p. 55). 



Among the shore birds the Western Willet is exceeded in size only 

 by the Long-billed Curlew, from which it also differs in having a 

 general coloration of gray rather than pinkish brown. Prom the 



