Order io. CHARADRIIFORMES. 

 Family i. Phalaropodid;e. Phalaropes. 



Moderate-sized Shore-birds, having special modifications fitting them for a more aquatic life; compact, "water- 

 proof" plumage, tarsi greatly compressed (to cut the water); toes semi-palmate, and broadly margined with collapsible 

 membrane. Females larger and more brightly colored than males. 3 species, breeding northerly, all Californian. 



I. Bill broad and stout; lobes of feet pronounced. 229. Red Phalarope. 



II. Bill slender; lobes of toes less pronounced. 



A. Bill less than 1.00; lobes crenate. 230. Northern Phalarope. 



B. Bill decidedly longer than 1. 00; lobes scarcely indicated. 231. Wilson's Phalarope. 



Family 2. Recurvirostrid^e. Avocets and Stilts. 



Medium-sized Shore-birds having extreme development of neck, bill and legs. 



I. Bill conspicuously upturned. 232. Avocet. 



II. Bill nearly straight. 233. Black-necked Stilt. 



Family 3. Scolopacid^. Snipes, Sandpipers, etc. 



Smallest to largest Shore-birds, chiefly characterized by shape and texture of bill, which is slender, lengthened, 

 usually straight, marked on both mandibles by lengthened grooves, the whole of a leathery, superficial consistency, 

 and highly sensitive. A large group of about 100 species, chiefly of the Northern Hemisphere. 19 species Califor- 

 nian, of which only 4 breeding in State. 



I. Bill more than 2 inches in length. 



A. Bill more than 5 inches. 



B. Bill less than 4.50 inches. 



1. Bill curved downward. 



2. Bill straight or slightly bent upward. 



a. Bill over 3.00. 244. 



b. Bill under 3.00. 

 (1). Bill widened and pitted at tip. 



(a). Lower portion of tibia bare for half an inch or less. 234. 

 (b). Lower portion of tibia bare for nearly an inch. 235. 



(2). Bill not widened at tip. 



252. Long-billed Curlew. 



253. Hudsonian Curlew. 

 Marbled Godwit. 



Wilson's Snipe. 

 Long-billed Dowitcher. 



(a). Wing with black and white in patches. 

 (b). Wing of inconspicuous pattern. 



II. Bill less than 2 inches in length. 



A. Toes, 3. 



B. Toes, 4. 



1. Tail-feathers pointed. 



2. Tail-feathers not pointed. 



a. Tail barred. 



(1). Wing less than 4.50 inches. 

 (2). Wing more than 5.00 inches, 

 (a). Wing over 6.00. 



(a 1 ). Upper tail-coverts white. 

 (b 1 ) Upper tail-coverts not white, 

 (b). Wing under 5.50. 



b. Tail not barred. 



(1). Bill over 1.20 inches, 

 (a). Wing over 6.50. 



(a 1 ). Rump white. 



(b 1 ). Rump not white. 

 (b). Wing under 5.00. 

 (2). Bill under 1.20. 

 (a). Wing over 4.50. 



(a 1 ). Bill over 1.00; wing 5.00 or more. 



(b 1 ). Bill .90 or less; wing about 4.70. 

 (b). Wing under 4.00. 



(a 1 ). Toes not webbed; bill about .70. 



(b 1 ). Toes webbed at base; bill over .90. 



2086 



248. 

 245. 



Western Willet. 

 Greater Yellowlegs. 



243. Sanderling. 



237. Sharp-tailed Sandpiper. 



251. Spotted Sandpiper. 



246. Lesser Yellowlegs. 



250. Bartramian Sandpiper. 



247. Western Solitary Sandpiper. 



236. Knot. 



249. Wandering Tattler. 



241. Red-backed Sandpiper. 



238. Pectoral Sandpiper. 



239. Baird's Sandpiper. 



240. Least Sandpiper. 

 242. Western Sandpiper. 



