A Western Willet foraging for food along the California coast. There is also an Eastern Willet, but my photos and focus is on the Western Willet.
Willet —
Tringa semipalmata
Willets belong to the shore birds more commonly called Sandpipers. I see several types of Sandpipers at the beach, but so far the only one I’ve successfully identified is the Willet.
SIZE:
Length: 13.0-16.1 in (33-41 cm)
Weight: 7.0-11.6 oz (200-330 g)
Wingspan: 27.6 in (70 cm)
LOCATION:
From All About Birds
DIET:
Willets forage along the shore, often alone. The tips of their beaks are sensitive and used to find food. They can forage at night as well as in the daytime. They eat crabs, insects, mollusks and worms. They feed along the mudflats, beaches and rocky shores.
A Willet getting a bite to eat along the shore.
NESTING:
Western Willets move inland from the shore for breeding along wetlands, grasslands or fresh water lakes. They nest on the ground and the male will scrape out a nest from the mud or grass. They line their nest with grasses or other soft materials. A typical clutch is four eggs. Males and females incubate their eggs, but the male takes over at night.
Although they are monogamous, they may separate after breeding season and reunite the next breeding season.
CALLS:
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Willet/sounds
An elegant bird
Such a pose! I wonder how they find each other after separating? Amazing birds!
That’s what I’m wondering about, too.
I love these photos, with the glossy reflection on the shore. What a beautiful bird!
Thanks! I like the reflection too. There are two other sandpipers — one bigger, the other smaller. I’m having trouble identifying them.
I’ve never heard of a Willet! I love learning about new-to-me birds!
The Willet is new to me, too.
That last photo is so cute! I didn’t know these were called Willets.
Thanks! I always called them Sandpipers in the past. I had to identify them through Merlin and sending a photo to AI to find out that it’s a Willet.