Game Birds and Game Fishes of the Pacific Coast Part 15

=Measurements=--Total length, about 6-3/4 inches; wing, 4-1/4, and bill 5/8 of an inch.

THE RING-NECKED PLOVER

(AEgialitis semipalmata)

The ring-neck plover is a fairly common visitor during the winter months. It is usually seen on the coast or on other sandy sh.o.r.es. It may be known by its partially webbed feet.

=Color=--Forehead, chin and neck, white, with a faint streak of dull brown from the bill under the eye to the back of the neck; a band of dull, brownish gray on the breast; back and wings, ashy gray; under parts, white; bill, black with a spot of orange at the base. Three toes which are webbed for about half their length.

=Nest and Eggs=--Nests are made in the sand and contain from three to four dirty white eggs, spotted with brown. =Measurements=--Total length, 6-3/4 inches; wing, 4-3/4, and bill, 1/2 inch.

WILSON'S PLOVER

(AEgialitis wilsonia)

While the Wilson plover is found to some extent on the southern Atlantic Coast, it may properly be said to be a Pacific species. Here it is seen on the beaches in large numbers, just beyond the reach of the surf, picking the insects and minute sh.e.l.lfish as they are washed on the sand, or flying in flocks just above the breakers.

=Color=--Forehead and stripe over the eye, white; black stripe in front of crown; top of head and stripe from the eye to the bill, black; black band just below the throat; back, gray; under parts, white; bill black, and legs and feet, light pink.

=Nest and Eggs=--The nest is a mere depression in the ground, with three to four eggs of a pale olive, spotted with dark brown.

=Measurements=--Total length, 7 to 8 inches; wing, 4 to 5; bill, about 3/4 of an inch. Three toes with a small

[Note: Unfinished sentence in original printed version.]

There are a number of other plovers on the hunting grounds of the Pacific Coast, but they are either too small or the flesh too poor to interest the sportsman. Of these the killdeer plover is the most common and the best known. A description of these would be of no interest to the sportsman and therefore add nothing to the purposes of this work.

[Ill.u.s.tration: AMERICAN AVOCET (Recurvirostra americana)]

THE AVOCET

(Recurvirostra americana)

The family =Recurvirostridae= has but two representatives on the Coast.

The American avocet breeds from Was.h.i.+ngton southward and spends its winters from central California south. They are quite plentiful in southern California during the winter months, increasing in numbers in Lower California and Mexico. Its webbed feet and long upward turned bill are features by which it may always be known. It is generally found in flocks and frequents both fresh and salt-waters.

=Color=--Head and neck, ashy gray; back and under parts, white; the primaries and upper half of the secondaries, black, making the wing about half black; bill, very slender and curved upward; legs, very long and of a lead color; feet, webbed.

=Nest and Eggs=--The nest contains three to four eggs of a pale olive, spotted with brown.

=Measurements=--Total length, about 19 inches; wing, 8, and bill, 3-1/2 inches.

THE BLACK-NECKED STILT

(Himantopus mexica.n.u.s)

The black-necked stilt is the other representative of the family. The stilt breeds as far north as eastern Oregon, but is little seen north of southern California in the winter. From there south it is plentiful. It may be easily known by the back of its head and neck, its back being black and the rest of the plumage nearly pure white.

Its legs are a dark pink.

=Color=--Wings, back, back of neck and top of head, black; balance of the plumage, white; legs, dark pink and very long. Toes, three and partly webbed.

=Nest and Eggs=--The nest is rarely anything but bare ground on which is deposited three to four eggs of a pale brown, spotted with dark brown.

=Measurements=--Total length, about 15-1/2 inches; wing, 9, and bill 2-3/4 inches.

Order, LIMICOLAE

Family, CHARADRIDAE - Plovers

Genus Species Common Names Range and Breeding Grounds -------------- -------------- ---------------- --------------------------

{squatarola Black-bellied {From Mexico north.

{ plover {Breeds from Oregon { . {north to Alaska.

Charadrius { {dominicus Golden plover Only an occasional migrant.

{From Alaska south to {semipalmata Ring-necked {Lower California. Breeds { plover {in its northern range.

{ { {From Central California {nivosa Snowy plover {south to Lower California AEgialitis { {and Mexico. Breeds { {throughout its range.

{ {montana Mountain plover {Interior plains of { {California and Arizona.

{ {Breeds in the mountain { {valleys.

{ {wilsonia Wilson's plover {From Oregon south to {Mexico. Breeds {throughout its range.

Order, LIMICOLAE

Family, RECURVIROSTRIDAE - Avocets and Stilts

Genus Species Common Names Range and Breeding Grounds -------------- -------------- ---------------- --------------------------

Recurvirostra americana Avocet { From Mexico north to { California. Breeds from { Eastern Oregon south.

Himantopus Mexica.n.u.s Black-necked { From Mexico to Southern stilt { California. Breeds near { the mountain lakes.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Morphology of Fishes]