60 
OHIO EXPERIMENT STATION: BULLETIN 250 
SHORE BIRDS 
Plovers, Snipes and Sandpipers belong to the group of birds 
known as Shore Birds and, true to name, they are usually found in 
the vicinity of water, although a few are to be found on dry ground. 
The majority of species frequent the shores of large bodies of water, 
yet a number of species are found along water courses or small in¬ 
land lakes. As a rule, they are gregarious dr ring winter. All are 
classed as game birds. Their food is largely trau 2 up of the small 
aquatic forms of animal-life, these being usually obtained by probing 
the mud with their long, slender, sensitive bills. Between 35 and 40 
representatives of this group occur in the state, being most abund¬ 
ant along the lake shore. A few species are common throughout the 
state. 
WOODCOCK, Philohela minor (Gmel.) 
The Woodcock has been far too much of a favorite, a game 
bird, for its own perpetuation. It was once an abundant inhabitant 
of swampy woodland in all parts of the state, but is now common in 
very few localities. It is a bird of crepuscular (twilight) or noctur¬ 
nal habits and is with difficulty flushed during the day. Except 
during migrations or in passing from woods to woods, it is never seen 
in the open. It is the only bird inhabiting woodland that probes the 
mud for insect larvaeandearthworms, upon which it feeds. Because 
of lax laws for the protection of this class of birds, this valuable 
game bird is rapidly nearing extermination. 
SPOTTED SANDPIPER, Actitus macularia (Linn.) 
This familiar bird is common throughout the state wherever 
streams and lakes occur. Its habit of teetering, a habit common to 
most of the Sandpipers, has caused this species to be called “Tip-up’’ 
or “Teeter,” while the name “peet-weet” is suggestive of the musical 
call-note which it utters when surprised. Its usual food is made up 
of aquatic insects and small animals which it picks up at the waters’ 
edge or by wading into the water. Grasshoppers and other land in¬ 
sects which are obtained on cultivated land or pastures, bordering 
streams, are also eaten. 
KILLDEER, Oxyechus vociferus (Linn.) 
This species is the commonest and best known of the Plovers 
as well as of the Shore Birds. Differing from the majority of species 
of the group, this bird is often found feeding in dry upland fields, 
although it is of much more frequent occurrence in moist meadows 
or in the vicinity of water. It is seldom seen alone, but usually goes 
in small scattered flocks. While feeding, it is a noisy, restless bird, 
running about in a nei vous manner, especially if it knows itself to be 
