
Status.--Local resident of freshwater marshes, streams, and ponds in the Tropical Zone, 
P ; t entirely different in colora~-_ 
Description,—-Suggestive of a shorebird in appearance bu 
tion, with long legs and extremely long toes; flight rail-~like;: often hold wings extended. 
ti ly above back when alighting. 
a aia ea ot Rade dark ze red, head and neck blackish; outstretched wing with 
flight feathers greenish yellow, rest of wing dark; a bright yellow frontal shield on the 
forehead, 
Immature.--Body grayish brown above, white below except for buffy tinge to 
breast: a broad white stripe over eye. 
Voice.--A sharp cackling note, singly or in series. 
feat cara, passteces) 
Mal 
vie 115-121 (118.3) Wing, 128-131 (129.7) 
Tail, 40.5-43 (42.2) Tail, 43-45.5 (44.5) 
Tarsus, 52.5-55 (53.5) Tarsus, 56-59 (57.2) 
Culmen from nostril, 17-18.5 (17.7) Culmen from nostril, 18-19 (18.7) 
General Distribution.--Central America from Guatemala and Belize (British Honduras). south 
to extreme western Panama. Pee hey 
Distribution in Guatemala,--Resident of the lagoone and marshes of the Pacific Codst. and 
Petén,. 7 * 
ords.--Lagoons adjacent to the Chiquimulilla Canal near Jicaro and Papaturro, January 
947: Lake Petén, January 30, 1947; near the mouth of the Rfo Motagua, January 30, - 
Reco 
29, 
1947: and January 11, 1948: near Océs, January 31, 1947. 7 
In literature it is recorded from: Santana Mixtdn, Huamachal, Lake of Petén: ~ 
Lake of Amatitldn (Salvin and Godman); Hacienda California, Pajapita (Griscom). 
Habits and Hunting.-~This colorful, graceful, little species should not be considered a 
game bird, 
50. Haematopus ostralegus palliatus Temminck 
American Oy ster-catcher 
Other Names. -- 
None known. 
Status.--The oyster-catcher apparently occurs only as a migrant or visitant along the 
Pacific Coast. 
Description.--A conspicuously pied dark and white shorebird about the size of a crow, with 
& large red bill which is flattened laterally, like a knife blade; head, neck, and upper 
breast glossy black; upper tail coverts white, tail dark gray; underparts white; iris and 
eye-ring red, orange, or yellow. ; 
Yoice.-~Variety of calls, one a shrill wheep, wheep, wheo. 
Measurements.—-— 
Male (5) Female (5) 
Wing, 253.4 Wing, 260.2 
Tail, 98.2 Tail, 102.4 
Tarsus, 55.6 Tarsus, 55.6 
Culmen, 81.1 Culmen, 88.6 
General Distribution.--Atlantic and Gulf coasts of North and South America from Virginia 
to Brazil; the West Indies (except Bahama Islands); Pacific coast of America from the 
Isthmus of Tehuantepec to the Bay of Panam&, and Colombia. 

Distribution in Guatemalg.--Migrant, observed only on the Pacific Coast. 
58 
