The Bartramian Sandpiper 



No. 250 



Bartramian Sandpiper 



A. O. U. No. 261. Bartramia longicauda (Bechstein). 



Synonyms. — "The Bartramian." Upland Plover. Field Plover. 



Description. — Adult: Above, varied brown or dusky with a slight olive tinge, 

 the feathers edged with ochraceous-buff, and on the back, etc., spotted and barred 

 with black; top of head blackish, parted by indistinct buffy median line; hind-neck 

 buffy or ochraceous, streaked with dusky; primaries dusky, the outer one with a white 

 shaft, and white strongly barred with dusky on the inner web; tail irregularly barred 

 with black, the central feather olive-dusky, the outer ones ochraceous and gray; under- 

 pays whitish or with buffy tinge on breast, sides, and crissum; the fore-neck sharply 

 streaked with brownish dusky; the markings U- or V-shaped on breast and opening 

 out into bars on the sides; axillars and lining of wings finely barred dusky and white. 

 Bill yellow, blackening on ridge and tip; feet and legs dull yellow. Immature: Similar 

 to adult, but buffy and ochraceous stronger, and dusky markings of underparts less 

 distinct. Length 285.8-323.9 (1 1. 25-12. 75) ; wing 162.6 (6.40); tail 71.6 (2.82); bill 

 30.5 (1.20); tarsus 45.2 (1.78). 



Recognition Marks. — Killdeer size or larger; bill somewhat shorter than head; 

 finely streaked and mottled coloration, ochraceous and dusky. A bird of upland and 

 prairie. Notes, a quavering alarm cry, and a mellow whistle long-drawn-out. 



Nesting. — Not known to breed in California. Nest: On the ground, a grass- 

 lined hollow. Eggs: 4; ovate, pale olive-buff, tilleul buff, ivory yellow, or pale clay- 

 color, spotted sharply and rather sparingly with deep reddish brown, umber, chocolate, 

 and violet-gray. Av. of 23 eggs in the M. C. O. coll.: 43.7 x 32 (1.72- x 1.26); index 

 73.2. Season: June; one brood. 



General Range. — North and South America. Breeds in the northern United 

 States from northern Virginia, southern Indiana, southern Missouri, southern Okla- 

 homa, northeastern Utah, and (an isolated colony?) southern Oregon, north to southern 

 Maine, southern Quebec, southern Michigan, Manitoba, southern Mackenzie, and 

 northwestern Alaska (E. K. Townsend). Migrates through Middle America and the 

 West Indies to Argentina and Chile. 



Occurrence in California. — Casual migrant, one record, Aug. 8, 1896, by 

 Vernon Bailey. 



Authorities. — Cooke {Bartramia longicauda), U. S. Dept. Agric, Biol. Surv. 

 Bull., no. 35, 1910, p. 65 (Tule Lake, Aug. 8, 1876, 1 spec). 



THE UPLAND PLOVER is not rated as common anywhere west of 

 the Rocky Mountains — though there is some evidence that the bird is 

 gradually extending its range into the inviting agricultural areas of Idaho 

 and Oregon. The bird loves meadows and upland pastures quite as well 

 as it does its native prairie unadorned, and if only our frail race knew how 

 to resist the temptations afforded by such an easy mark, this handsome 

 Plover might eventually gladden our Western farm life. 



Like a benediction from heaven comes that stirring, rolling, long- 



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