Wandering Tattler, Tringa incana


Wandering Tattler
Described by Birds of North America as one of the continent's least known birds, the Wandering Tattler is a regular but uncommon winter visitor to the rocky shore of the Pacific Coast, difficult to see and photograph as a result of its solitary habits and the effective camouflage of its plain gray upperpart plumage. Like the Surfbird, another bird of the rocky Pacific shore in winter, the species breeds in mountainous areas in Alaska and the Yukon, and so is little seen during its nesting season. The birds above and below, just arrived in the Bay Area in August as fall migrants, show the barred flanks of breeding plumage; so does the bird next down, late to leave from the Monterey peninsula on spring migration in mid-May.

Wandering Tattler

Wandering Tattler

Wandering Tattler
The bird above is an adult in non-breeding plumage; the three shown below are in juvenile plumage, with light gray linings to their upperparts feathers.


Wandering Tattler


Wandering Tattler

Wandering Tattler