The Western Solitary Sandpiper 
Taken in Santa Barbara Photo by the Author 
A GLIMPSE OF A SOLITARY SANDPIPER 
THE SMALLER BIRD IS A BAIRD SANDPIPER 
with light grayish brown. Immature: Like adult in winter, but colors still more 
blended, the spotting of the back pale cinnamon instead of white; no streakings on head 
and neck. Length 190.5-215.9 (7.50-8.50); wing 137.6 (5.42); tail 57 (2.24); bill 31.1 
(1.22); tarsus 33.4 (1.315)- 
Recognition Marks. —Towhee size; olive-brown with white speckling. To be 
carefully distinguished from Actitis macularia by its somewhat larger size and slimmer 
build, as well as by the absence of spotting on the belly. Weet, weet note a little sharper 
than that of A. macularia. 
Nesting. —Not yet distinguished from that of T. s. solitaria. —(Does not breed 
in California). Eggs: 4; pointed ovate; white with a pinkish, bluish, or greenish 
tinge, sharply and rather finely but sparingly spotted with chocolate and deep vinaceous 
gray; deposited in old nest of Robin, Crackle, or other species, in sapling or tree. Av. 
of 8 eggs in M. C. O. coll.: 35.05 x 24.9 (1.38 x .98); index 71. Season: c. June 1st; 
one brood. 
Range of Tringa solitaria. —The Americas, breeding in cold, temperate, and sub- 
Arctic regions of North America; migrating through the West Indies and Middle 
America to Argentina and Peru. 
Range of T. s. cinnamomea. — Imperfectly distinguished from that of T. s. 
solitaria, but probably comprises all breeding territory west of Longitude no West, 
and in general the Pacific section of the Americas. Breeds, thus, from northern 
Alberta (where alone authentic nests with eggs of any form of solitaria have been taken) 
to northwestern Alaska, and winters south to Peru. 
Occurrence in California. —Not common migrant, but appears both coastwise 
and throughout the interior, chiefly in early autumn. 
Authorities.—Cassin (Rhyacophilus solitarius), in Baird, Rep. Pac. R. R. Surv., 
vol. ix., 1858, p. 733 (Fort Tejon); Willett, Pac. Coast Avifauna, no. 7, 1912, p. 38 
(occurrence in s. Calif.); Howell, Pac. Coast Avifauna, no. 12, 1917, p. 47 (s. Calif, ids.). 
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