The Western Solitary Sandpiper 



Taken in Santa Barbara 



A GLIMPSE OF A SOLITARY SANDPIPER 



THE SMALLER BIRD IS A BAIRD SANDPIPER 



Photo by the Author 



with light grayish brown. Immature: Like adult in winter, but colors still more 

 blended, the spotting of the back pale cinnamon instead of white; no streakings on head 

 and neck. Length 190.5-215.9 (7.50-8.50); wing 137.6 (5.42); tail 57 (2.24); bill 31. 1 

 (1.22); tarsus 33.4 (1.315)- 



Recognition Marks. — Towhee size; olive-brown with white speckling. To be 

 carefully distinguished from Actitis macularia by its somewhat larger size and slimmer 

 build, as well as by the absence of spotting on the belly. Weet, weet note a little sharper 

 than that of A. macularia. 



Nesting. — Not yet distinguished from that of T. s. solitaria. — (Does not breed 

 in California). Eggs: 4; pointed ovate; white with a pinkish, bluish, or greenish 

 tinge, sharply and rather finely but sparingly spotted with chocolate and deep vinaceous 

 gray; deposited in old nest of Robin, Grackle, or other species, in sapling or tree. Av. 

 of 8 eggs in M. C. O. coll.: 35.05 x 24.9 (1.38 x .98); index 71. Season: c. June 1st; 

 one brood. 



Range of Tringa solitaria. — The Americas, breeding in cold, temperate, and sub- 

 Arctic regions of North America; migrating through the West Indies and Middle 

 America to Argentina and Peru. 



Range of T. s. cinnamomea. — Imperfectly distinguished from that of T. s. 

 solitaria, but probably comprises all breeding territory west of Longitude 1 10 West, 

 and in general the Pacific section of the Americas. Breeds, thus, from northern 

 Alberta (where alone authentic nests with eggs of any form of solitaria have been taken) 

 to northwestern Alaska, and winters south to Peru. 



Occurrence in California. — Not common migrant, but appears both coastwise 

 and throughout the interior, chiefly in early autumn. 



Authorities. — Cassin ( Rhyacophilus solitarius), in Baird, Rep. Pac. R. R. Surv., 

 vol. ix., 1858, p. 733 (Fort Tejon); Willett, Pac. Coast Avifauna, no. 7, 1912, p. 38 

 (occurrence in s. Calif.); Howell, Pac. Coast Avifauna, no. 12, 191 7, p. 47 (s. Calif, ids.). 



I26Q 



