The Long-billed Dowitcher 



Long-billed Dowitchers are well distributed through California, 

 especially coastwise, during the migrations. A few linger to winter 

 both in southern California and in the central valley. A straggler may 

 now and then be seen in summer time, but there is no suspicion that they 

 breed with us. 



The typical breeding range is Alaska, and Nelson found them mating 

 at the mouth of the Yukon about June 1st. "Two or three males start 

 in pursuit of a female and away they go twisting and turning, here and 

 there, over marsh and stream, with marvelous swiftness and dexterity. 

 At short distances a male checks his flight for a moment to utter a strident 

 peet u weet; wee-too, wee-too; then on he goes full tilt again. After they 

 are mated, or when a solitary male pays his devotions, they rise 15 

 or 20 yards from the ground, where, hovering upon quivering wings, the 

 birds pour forth a lisping but energetic and frequent musical song, which 

 can be very imperfectly expressed by the syllables peet-peet; pee-ter-wee- 

 too; wee-too; pee-ter -wee-too; pee-ter -wee-too; wee-too; wee-too. This is 

 the complete song, but frequently only fragments are sung, as when 

 the bird is in pursuit of the female." 1 



The eggs, four in number, and closely resembling those of the Wilson 

 Snipe, are placed in a shallow depression formed by the bird's body in 

 the soft moss which covers the ground in that region. 



: E. W. Nelson: "Rep. of Natl. Hist. Colls, made in Alaska," 1881. p. 101. 



Taken near Santa Barbara 



A PROBING INQUIRY 



Photo by the Author 



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