Tetraonidæ: Grouse, Quail, etc.—The Canada, ruffled, and allied species of grouse occur in the woodlands. The prairie sharp-tail and sage-hen are found on the plains of the west, while the ptarmigans inhabit the bleak regions of the north. The common quail is widely distributed throughout the more open country, from Massachusetts to Texas, and the plumed California and allied species occur in the southwest, frequenting the thickets of the prairies, or along the mountain-sides.
Charadridæ: Plovers.—These are, as a rule, maritime birds, especially during the southward migrations, but many of the species breed in the interior, and the kildeer and mountain plovers are always more common on bodies of fresh water. None of the species are, however, found far from water, but they all alight in dry fields in search of food.
Hæmatopodidæ: Oyster-catchers and Turnstones.—All these birds inhabit the seacoast. They occur in oyster-beds or among rocks.
Recurvirostridæ: Avocets and Stilts.—Both these species are birds of the interior, being found in the south and west in the vicinity of water.
Phalaropodidæ: Phalaropes.—These singular birds are found off the coast, often far out at sea during winter, but, oddly enough, breed in the interior, nesting throughout the northwest and north. They are, however, occasionally found on the coast during the northward migration, especially during storms.
Scolopacidæ: Snipes, Woodcock, etc.—Woodcock and snipes are usually found in freshwater swamps, especially in spring. The true sandpipers, like peep, grass-birds, etc., haunt the pools in marshes or accompany the sanderlings on the beaches. The godwits are found on the marshes, as are also red-breasted snipe, but the curlews inhabit hill-tops, especially during the autumnal migration. I have, however, found the long-billed curlew on the beaches of Florida. Willets and yellow-legs occur on the marshes or on the borders of streams.
Tantalidæ: Ibises and Spoonbills.—Occur along the borders of streams and other bodies of fresh water, or on mud-flats in the far south.
Ardeidæ: Herons.—These are widely distributed birds. The true herons occur along the margins of bodies of water, both on the coast and in the interior, while the bitterns generally haunt only the fresh water.
Gruidæ: Cranes.—Are found on the prairies of the west and south, frequenting the vicinity of water.
Aramidæ: Courlan.—The well-known crying-bird is found only in Florida, inhabiting swamps along the rivers and lakes of the interior.