The Semipalmated Plover 
portion of their shafts white. Bill black, orange-red at base; a bright orange ring 
around eye; feet and legs yellowish. Adult in winter: The black markings replaced 
by dark grayish brown. Young: Similar to adult in winter, but feathers of upper- 
parts tipped with light bufify. Length 165.1-190.5 (6.50-7.50); wing 124.5 (4.90); 
tail 53.3 (2.10); bill 13.2 (.52); tarsus 24.6 (.97). 
Recognition Marks. —Sparrow size, but appearing larger; a miniature Killdeer, 
but without tawny rump, and with only one black band across breast. Feet partially 
webbed. 
Nesting. —Does not breed in California. Nest: On the ground. Eggs: 3 or 
4; something like those of Killdeer, but smaller and not so heavily marked. Av. size 
33 x 23.4 (1.30 x .92). 
General Range. —North and South America, breeding northerly from Melville 
Island to southern Mackenzie, Labrador, the islands of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and 
the Queen Charlotte Islands; wintering south from South Carolina, Louisiana, and 
southern Lower California, through the West Indies to Argentina and Chile and upon 
the Galapagos Islands. 
Occurrence in California. —Common spring and fall migrant coastwise; 
casual about the larger bodies of water in the interior (Salton Sea, Apr. 27 and 28, 
1917). Spring migrations: Apr. 27 to May 7 (Santa Barbara). Fall: July 28 
to Oct. 15 (ib.). 
Authorities.—Cassin ( Aegialitis semipalmatus) , in Baird, Rep. Pac. R. R. 
Surv., vol. ix., 1858, p. 694 (Presidio; Petaluma); Coues , Birds of the Northwest, 
1874, p. 453 (syn., life history); Howell, Pac. Coast Avifauna, no. 12, 1917, p. 49 
(s. Calif, ids.). 
Taken near Santa Barbara Photo by the Author 
A GENTLEMAN FROM PERU 
PORTRAIT OF SEMIPALMATED PLOVER 
