(AEgialitis montana)
The mountain plover is very plentiful on the plains of southern California during the winter months. This little bird as a table delicacy is not surpassed by any of the long list of shore birds. In fact it is preferred by many to the far-famed jack snipe. It is an upland bird, feeding largely on insects, and rarely found near the marshes whether salt or fresh-water. In its winter plumage, as seen here, its underparts are white with the breast and upper parts of a brownish gray.
Color—Throat, breast and under parts, white; the rest of the plumage, light buffish gray; sometimes the breast will show a slight tinge of buff; axillars, white; bill, black. Three toes without web.
Nest and Eggs—The nests are placed on the uplands and contain three grayish eggs, spotted with brown.
Measurements—Total length, 8 3/4 inches; wing, 6, and bill, 9/10 of an inch.
THE SNOWY PLOVER
(AEgialitis nivosa)
The snowy plover is quite common from northern California to Mexico. It is a small bird and, while it is hunted but little, its flesh is quite delicate. In its winter plumage it is much lighter in color than any of the others named.
Color—Top of head, back of neck and back, buffish gray; forehead and under parts, white; a patch of dull brown just above the white of the forehead, and another of the same color on each side of the throat. Three toes without web.
Nest and Eggs—The nests are found throughout its range; they are nothing more than a depression in the sand and contain four grayish buff eggs, spotted with black.