A Synopsis of the Birds of North America

by John James Audubon

Grey Phalarope, Phalaropus lobatus, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. ix. p. 72.

Phalaropus Wilsonii, Bonap. Syn. p. 342.

Wilson's Phalarope, Phalaropus Wilsonii, Bonap. Amer. Orn. v. iv. p. 59.

Phalaropus Wilsonii, Wilson's Phalarope, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 405.

American Phalarope, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 245.

Wilson's Phalarope, Phalaropus Wilsonii, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 400.

GENUS IV. TOTANUS, Bechst. TATLER.

Bill much longer than the head, very slender, subcylindrical, straight, flexible, compressed at the base, the point rather depressed and obtuse; upper mandible with the dorsal line straight, the ridge convex, as are the sides, the edges thick, the tip slightly deflected; lower mandible with the angle very long and narrow, the dorsal line straight, the sides convex, with a slight groove in their basal half, the edges grooved longitudinally, as are those of the upper, the tip narrow. Nostrils basal, linear. Head of moderate size, oblong; neck rather long and slender; body slender. Feet very long and slender; tibia bare for half its length; tarsus compressed, scutellate before and behind; hind toe very small, anterior of moderate length, connected by webs at the base, all scutellate above. Claws small, slightly arched, rather obtuse. Plumage soft and blended; wings long, narrow, pointed; first quill longest, inner secondaries long; tail short, of twelve rounded feathers.

343. 1. Totanus macularius, Wils. Spotted Tatler.—Spotted Sandpiper. Peet-weet.

Plate CCCX. Male and Female.

Bill a little longer than the head, very slender, flexible, greenish above, yellow beneath, legs rather long and slender, pale flesh-colour; upper parts glossy greenish-olive, with bronze reflections, the head longitudinally streaked, the back transversely undulated with dusky; lower parts white, marked with numerous brownish-black spots, smaller on the throat, largest and roundish on the breast and sides. Young with the upper feathers of the upper parts terminally margined with dusky, the wing-coverts barred, the lower parts pure white.

Male, 8, 13³/₄.

Breeds from the Texas along the shores to Maine, the islands of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and Labrador. Inland all over the country. Very common. Resident in the Southern States. Columbia River.

Spotted Sandpiper, Tringa macularia, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. vii. p. 60.

Totanus macularius, Bonap. Syn. p. 325.

Spotted Tatler or Peet-weet, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 162.

Spotted Sandpiper, Totanus macularius, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 81.

344. 2. Totanus solitarius, Wils. Solitary Tatler.—Solitary Sandpiper.