The Marbled Godwit 
heavily and irregularly barred with the same,—a typical feather from the scapulars has 
a broad dusky center shaped like a dandelion leaf, the complementary spaces being 
ochraceous-buff, or irregularly white; the primary coverts, and outer webs of three 
outer primaries brownish dusky; the breast (especially on sides), the sides, flanks, and 
lower tail-coverts, with fine wavy bars of dusky; the superciliary line and throat im¬ 
maculate, pale buffy, or whitish; the axillars and lining of wings darker—say, pale 
cinnamon-rufous. Bill, slightly upturned, livid flesh-color, blackening toward tip; 
feet and legs blackish. Immature: Similar to adult, but immaculate on breast; sides 
and flanks less distinctly and extensively barred. Length 419.1-533.4 (16.50-21.00); 
wing 232.4 (9.15); tail 79.5 (3.13); bill 108.7 (4-28); tarsus 69.6 (2.74). 
Recognition Marks. —Crow size; large size; long, slightly upturned bill; pale 
cinnamon coloration; “marbled” appearance of upperparts. 
Nesting. — Does not breed in California. Nest: On the ground. Eggs: 3 or 
4; olive-buff of varying shades, spotted or marked broadly but sometimes obscurely 
with burnt umber and violet-gray. Av. size 57.9 x 40.6 (2.28 x 1.60). Season: May 
20—June 10; one brood. 
General Range. —Temperate North America and South America. Breeds in a 
narrow range in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and North Dakota. Migrates directly 
to all sea-coasts, formerly to Atlantic Coast as far north as Prince Edward Island, 
to southern portions of Hudson Bay, and on Pacific Coast as far north as Vancouver 
Island; now chiefly to Gulf Coast and to California Coast; thence south along coast 
of Mexico and Central America to Peru. Wintering from Gulf States and southern 
Lower California southward. 
Occurrence in California. —Common migrant along or near sea coast; more 
abundant in fall. Winters sparingly even to Humboldt Bay. Not recorded from the 
islands. 
Authorities.—Gambel (Limosa fedoa), Jour. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., ser. 2, i., 
1849, p. 223 (Pac. Coast U. S. in winter); Bent, Auk, vol. xxiv., 1907, p. 160 (nesting 
habits, N. Dakota); Bailey, Condor, vol. xviii., 1916, p. 101 (habits; s. Calif, in winter). 
Taken near Santa Barbara 
Photo by the A uthor 
STRANGE POSTURINGS 
1259 
