82 
BIENNAL REPORT 
met with a small flock at Heron Lake and took three specimens which are in the 
Survey Collection. Peabody reports seeing “a flock of about 200” at Heron Lake 
on May 18, 1895. This is all the information that can be found in regard fo this 
bird in Minnesota. There are no recent reports. It is said to be getting rare 
everywhere. It breeds in the far north and winters in the southern part of South 
America. 
Like the Marbled Godwit, its bill is curved slightly upward. The Hudsonian 
is a smaller bird than the Marbled and the under parts in the spring adult are 
dark reddish-brown instead of pale buffy, with darker and more distinct bars. 
Measurements: Marbled Godwit, length, 16.50-19.50 inches; bill, 3.66-5.00 inches; 
Hudsonian Godwit, length, 14-16 inches; bill, 3.20 inches. 
GREATER YELLOW-LEGS; GREATER TELL-TALE. This big Wader 
was formerly an abundant migrant spring and fall, but is now seen rather infre¬ 
quently and the large flocks have dwindled to occasional small parties or single 
birds. It occurs from early April to June and from late July to October, belated 
birds remaining now and then until November (November 11, 1881, and November 
12, 1884, Lanesboro, Fillmore County, Hvoslef). Recent records of single birds 
of this species are from Cass Lake, July 10, 1916 (Lofstrom), and Elk River, 
April 20 and May 17, 1914, and April 22 and 28, 1915 (Bernard Bailey). Mr. 
J. M. Eheim’s report of this bird’s being common at Hutchinson, April 29, 1918 
{Fins, Feathers arid Fur, No. 14, June, 1918), was an error. Breeds on the Arctic 
coasts and winters from the Gulf states to Patagonia. 
The notes of this species are musical, like a mellow whistle. It decoys 
readily and was formerly shot in great numbers on the Atlantic coast and else¬ 
where. 
YELLOW-LEGS; LESSER YELLOW-LEGS; LESSER TELL-TALE. This 
bird is still a common migrant from early April to late May, returning again 
in the latter part of August to remain until October. It may frequently be seen 
during the breeding season but there is no evidence that it nests here. It was 
extremely abundant at Mud Lake, Marshall County, July 23, 1900 (Dart). Pea¬ 
body relates that at Heron Lake, June 15 to mid-summer, 1894, it reappeared after 
a month’s absence “in flocks of ten to fifty, swarming noisily and fearlessly every¬ 
where on the great waste of mud-flats that were daily growing larger with the 
prolonged drought. The Lesser outnumbered the Larger, at the period, about 
four to one.” (Oologist, XII, p. 15.) A considerable flight occurred in the vicinity 
of Minneapolis in the spring of 1918, during the first week of May. 
This bird is a small counterpart of the Greater Yellow-legs in appearance, 
habits, breeding range and winter home. Measurements: Greater Yellow-legs, 
length, 14 inches; bill, 2.20. Lesser Yellow-legs, length, 10.75; bill, 1.40. 
SOLITARY SANDPIPER. A common summer resident in the wooded areas 
of the northern part of the state; farther south it is a migrant. Unusually 
abundant at Minneapolis, May 7-14, 1918. Reaches Minneapolis on the southward 
movement, August 1-15. It frequents wooded streams and forest lakes and ponds. 
This bird has the singular habit of laying its eggs in the deserted nests of other 
birds in trees. While no instance of the actual finding of the eggs in Minnesota is 
known, it undoubtedly breeds throughout the northern part of the state. 
