General

Gray-tailed Tattler: Medium-sized sandpiper with gray upperparts and cap, white eyebrow and throat, gray streaked breast, and pale gray underparts. Wings and tail are dark. Sexes are similar. Winter adult has pale forehead.

Range and Habitat

Gray-tailed Tattler: Occurs as a regular spring and fall migrant on the outer Aleutian Islands, Pribilofs, and St. Lawrence Island, and casually on the Alaska coast, north to Point Barrow; there are single records from Washington and California.

Breeding and Nesting

Gray-tailed Tattler: Four light blue eggs speckled with black are laid on the bare ground sheltered by rocks; sometimes uses an abandoned thrush nest. Incubation ranges from 24 to 25 days and is carried out by both parents.

Foraging and Feeding

Gray-tailed Tattler: Feeds on arthropods and other invertebrates; forages on the ground.

Vocalization

Gray-tailed Tattler: Bold, rising call of "tu-weeeeeet." Alarm call is a sharp "klee-klee."

Similar Species

Gray-tailed Tattler: Wandering Tattler has more distinct bars on underparts and darker gray upperparts.