Wandering Tattler

Wandering Tattler

Heteroscelus incanus

A characteristic bird of the rocky Pacific Coast, the Wandering Tattler can be seen bobbing and teetering among the rocks and waves during winter and migration. Some individuals spend the summer along the southern part of the range rather than go with the rest of the birds to their breeding grounds in the mountains of Alaska and northwestern Canada.

Interesting Information

The name "wandering" refers to its widespread occurrence over vast portions of ocean. "Tattler" refers to its voice; its alarm notes alert other birds to a hunter's presence.
In Greek, the genus name, Heteroscelus, means "different leg." It refers to the small scaling on their feet, which differentiates these tattlers from other sandpipers.
Although their feet are not webbed, they are decent swimmers and can swim as chicks.
A group of tattlers are collectively known as a "whisper" of tattlers.

Description

Adult Description

Length Range: 28 cm (11 in)
Weight: 116 g (4.1 oz)
Size: Medium (9 - 16 in)
Short, thick yellow legs.
Moderately long, straight bill.
Gray all over.
Belly white.
Short white eyestripe.
Constantly bobs its tail and rear end up and down as it walks.
Entire underside heavily barred in breeding plumage.
Plain gray wings and tail.

Sex Differences

Sexes Similar

Immature

Similar to nonbreeding adult, but gray breast and flanks faintly smudged and barred, and back feathers with some whitish tips.

Photo taken from: The Sibley Field Guide by David Allen Sibley

Habitat

Found on rugged, rocky coastlines, jetties, and breakwaters, but during migration may be found on sandy beaches and coastal estuaries.

Behavior

On wintering grounds, forages by probing among the kelp and rocks of outer coast marine habitat for crustaceans, marine worms, and small mollusks. Occasionally wades in deep water, and may immerse its head completely to catch food.

Food

Eats insects, larvae, worms and mollusks. Quick, direct flight with rapid wing beats.

Taxonomy

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Subphylum:	Vertebrata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Charadriiformes
Family:	Scolopacidae
Genus:	Heteroscelus
Species:	Heteroscelus incanus

Similar Species

Black Turnstone and Surfbird live in same rocky intertidal environment, but the Wandering Tattler is differently shaped, is unmarked in flight, and bobs its tail.
Spotted Sandpiper also bobs tail constantly, but is smaller, brown, and has a short white wingstripe.
Stilt Sandpiper in breeding plumage is heavily barred below, but it has long, thing greenish legs, a slightly drooping bill, and does not occur in the same habitat, prefering shallow ponds and mudflats.

Bird Sound

Call a loud, ringing "kree-kree-kree."

Eggs look like this

Photo taken from: ARCTOS Collaborative Collection Management Solution

	Sources Used To Construct This Page
	Gill, R. E., B. J. McCaffery, and P. S. Tomkovich. 2002. Wandering Tattler (Heteroscelus incanus). In The Birds of North America, No.642 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.

	All photos and videos © Rick Swartzentrover - Free for non-profit use.