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Wandering Tattler

Tringa incanaOrder: CHARADRIIFORMES Family: Sandpipers (Scolopacidae)
Codes: Common Name: WATA Scientific Name: TRIINC ITIS Taxonomic No.: 176630
Least Concern
 
Wandering Tattler
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Birdman Mel's Backyard Tips
Jelly Jar Jelly Feeder
The orange "blossum" replaces the lid of a jelly jar.
Attract Orioles with Fruit
Sliced orange secures easily to the center of the ring. Low cost.
Attract with Nectar
Hex shaped nectar feeds several Orioles. Nectar kept in fridge.
Charm and Attraction
Lovely copper umbrella keeps fruit cool and looks great.

Overview

Wandering Tattler: Medium sandpiper, solid gray upperparts and heavily black-and-white barred underparts. Face is finely streaked and eye line is dark. Long, black bill. White eye ring. Dull yellow legs and feet. Eats insects, larvae, worms and mollusks. Quick, direct flight with rapid wing beats.

Range and Habitat

Wandering Tattler: Breeds in mountainous areas of south-central Alaska and northwestern British Columbia. Spends winters on Pacific coast from central California southward. Found on rugged, rocky coastlines, jetties, and breakwaters, but during migration may be found on sandy beaches and coastal estuaries.

Topo Map: Sandpiper-like Body


Listen to Call

Voice Text

"whit-wee-wee-wees"

Interesting Facts

 It is believed that hunters named Wandering Tattlers for their loud and scolding calls, which warn other birds of approaching danger.

 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.


Bird Term Glossary



Author

Gary Owen Dick

Artist

Imran Kahn

Splitbar
Range Map for Wandering Tattler

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Family Sandpiper (Scolopacidae)_blue
Species Tringa incana
Length11 Inches
Wingspan22 Inches

Wandering Tattler

Wandering Tattler: Medium sandpiper, solid gray upperparts and heavily black-and-white barred underparts. Face is finely streaked and eye line is dark. Long, black bill. White eye ring. Dull yellow legs and feet. Eats insects, larvae, worms and mollusks. Quick, direct flight with rapid wing beats.

● Song: "whit-wee-wee-wees"

● Foraging & Feeding: Wandering Tattler: Diet includes various adult and larval flies, especially caddisflies and crane flies during the breeding season. 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.

● Breeding & nesting: Wandering Tattler: Four olive or green eggs marked with brown are laid in a shallow cup of twigs and roots, built in a hollow among rocks or gravel. Incubation ranges from 23 to 25 days and is carried out by both parents.

● Similar species: Wandering Tattler: Gray-tailed Tattler has fine dark gray bars on breast, flanks, and edge of undertail coverts, and no bars on belly.

Flight Pattern

Quick direct effortless flight with rapid flicking wing beats.
Wandering Tattler Body Illustration
● Range & Habitat: Wandering Tattler: Breeds in mountainous areas of south-central Alaska and northwestern British Columbia. Spends winters on Pacific coast from central California southward. Found on rugged, rocky coastlines, jetties, and breakwaters, but during migration may be found on sandy beaches and coastal estuaries.
BreedingMonogamous
PopulationUncommon to fairly common
MigrationMigratory
Weight4.1 Ounces
Sandpiper-like BodyX
UnderpartsX
Belly, undertail coverts, chest, flanks, and foreneck.
UpperpartsX
Back, rump, hindneck, wings, and crown.
Eye lineX
The line of feathers just in front of and behind the eyes. It extends back from the posterior angle of the eye. This can be a useful trait used in identification in the field since it is very noticeable.
Eye ringX
The circle around the eye formed of feathers that are a different color from the rest of the face.
FaceX
The front part of the head consisting of the bill, eyes, cheeks and chin.
4 and 6 letter alpha codesX

The four letter common name alpha code is is derived from the first two letters of the common first name and the first two letters of common last name. The six letter species name alpha code is derived from the first three letters of the scientific name (genus) and the first three letters of the scientific name (species). See (1) below for the rules used to create the codes..

Four-letter (for English common names) and six-letter (for scientific names) species alpha codes were developed by Pyle and DeSante (2003, North American Bird-Bander 28:64-79) to reflect A.O.U. taxonomy and nomenclature (A.O.U. 1998) as modified by Supplements 42 (Auk 117:847-858, 2000) and 43 (Auk 119:897-906, 2002). The list has been updated by Pyle and DeSante to reflect changes reported by the A.O.U from 2003 through 2006.

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ITIS CodesX

The Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) was established in the mid-1990�s as a cooperative project among several federal agencies to improve and expand upon taxonomic data (known as the NODC Taxonomic Code) maintained by the National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

To find the ITIS page for a bird species go to the ITIS web site advanced search and report page at http://www.itis.gov/advanced_search.html. You can enter the TSN or the common name of the bird. It will return the ITIS page for that bird. Another way to obtain the ITIS page is to use the Google search engine. Enter the string ITIS followed by the taxonomic ID, for example "ITIS 178041" will return the page for the Allen's Hummingbird.

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Parts of a Standing birdX
Head Feathers and MarkingsX
Parts of a Flying birdX