The Marbled Godwit 



heavily and irregularly barred with the same, — a typical feather from the scapulars has 

 a broad dusky center shaped like a dandelion leaf, the complementary spaces being 

 ochraceous-buff, or irregularly white; the primary coverts, and outer webs of three 

 outer primaries brownish dusky; the breast (especially on sides), the sides, flanks, and 

 lower tail-coverts, with fine wavy bars of dusky; the superciliary line and throat im- 

 maculate, pale buffy, or whitish; the axillars and lining of wings darker — say, pale 

 cinnamon-rufous. Bill, slightly upturned, livid flesh-color, blackening toward tip; 

 feet and legs blackish. Immature: Similar to adult, but immaculate on breast; sides 

 and flanks less distinctly and extensively barred. Length 419. 1-533.4 (16.50-21.00); 

 wing 232.4 (9.15); tail 79.5 (3.13); bill 108.7 (4- 28 ); tarsus 69.6 (2.74). 



Recognition Marks. — Crow size; large size; long, slightly upturned bill; pale 

 cinnamon coloration; "marbled" appearance of upperparts. 



Nesting. — Does not breed in California. Nest: On the ground. Eggs: 3 or 

 4; olive-buff of varying shades, spotted or marked broadly but sometimes obscurely 

 with burnt umber and violet-gray. Av. size 57.9 x 40.6 (2.28 x 1.60). Season: May 

 20-June 10; one brood. 



General Range. — Temperate North America and South America. Breeds in a 

 narrow range in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and North Dakota. Migrates directly 

 to all sea-coasts, formerly to Atlantic Coast as far north as Prince Edward Island, 

 to southern portions of Hudson Bay, and on Pacific Coast as far north as Vancouver 

 Island; now chiefly to Gulf Coast and to California Coast; thence south along coast 

 of Mexico and Central America to Peru. Wintering from Gulf States and southern 

 Lower California southward. 



Occurrence in California. — Common migrant along or near sea coast; more 

 abundant in fall. Winters sparingly even to Humboldt Bay. Not recorded from the 

 islands. 



Authorities. — Gambel (Limosa fedoa), Jour. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., ser. 2, i., 

 1849, p. 223 (Pac. Coast U. S. in winter) ; Bent, Auk, vol. xxiv., 1907, p. 160 (nesting 

 habits, N. Dakota) ; Bailey, Condor, vol. xviii., 1916, p. 101 (habits; s. Calif, in winter). 



J-V 



a iv 



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Taken near Santa Barbara 

 Photo by the A uthor 



STRANGE POSTURINGS 



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