| All rights reserved. |
Identification of Willets (Tringa semipalmata)
by Cin-Ty Lee
by Cin-Ty Lee
 | |  | |  |
| There are two subspecies of Willet (Tringa semipalmata): Eastern (T. s. semipalmatus) and Western (T. s. inornatus). These two subspecies may be split into two species. A great identification article on this subject by Michael O'Brien appeared in the May/June issue of Birding magazine. Here are some notes on Willet identification, particularly on the Gulf Coast, where we have the opportunity to study both Willets. Texas birders should note that Eastern Willets do not winter along the Gulf Coast. They arrive on their breeding grounds in the salt marshes along the Texas coast in March. The majority of them depart for their Carribean wintering grounds by late July. Juvenile Easterns depart later and can be seen into August. Western Willets are present year-round along the Gulf Coast but they do not breed there. Westerns breed in the northern Great Basin and north into western Canada. They arrive on their wintering grounds in Texas in early July and depart for their northerly breeding grounds by the end of May. A large number of Westerns over-summer on coastal mudflats. These are invariably first summer birds in winter plumage. |
Eastern Willet (worn alternate adult)
4 July 2006 - Bolivar Flats, TX
Note, shorter and stouter bill, thicker-based bill, and shorter
legs. Note the nearly straight-sloping back down to wingtips
and tail. Breeding Easterns often have a pinkish base to the
bill. Upper and lower tarsi are of similar length. Adult birds
like this in worn alternate plumage vacate the region by the
end of July. Photo by Cin-Ty Lee
4 July 2006 - Bolivar Flats, TX
Note, shorter and stouter bill, thicker-based bill, and shorter
legs. Note the nearly straight-sloping back down to wingtips
and tail. Breeding Easterns often have a pinkish base to the
bill. Upper and lower tarsi are of similar length. Adult birds
like this in worn alternate plumage vacate the region by the
end of July. Photo by Cin-Ty Lee
Western Willet (worn alternate adult)
21 July 2007 - Bolivar Flats, TX
Long and thin bill and long legs are distinctive of Western
Willet. Humped appearance rather than a straight-sloping
back is also characteristic of Western. Note that upper tarsi are
shorter than lower tarsi. Western Willets arrive to winter on the
Gulf Coast in early July. Like this bird, they arrive in worn
alternate plumage and quickly proceed to molt into their
non-descript winter plumages. Photo by Cin-Ty Lee
21 July 2007 - Bolivar Flats, TX
Long and thin bill and long legs are distinctive of Western
Willet. Humped appearance rather than a straight-sloping
back is also characteristic of Western. Note that upper tarsi are
shorter than lower tarsi. Western Willets arrive to winter on the
Gulf Coast in early July. Like this bird, they arrive in worn
alternate plumage and quickly proceed to molt into their
non-descript winter plumages. Photo by Cin-Ty Lee
Eastern Willet (worn alternate adult)
15 July 2007 - Galveston, TX
Note, shorter and stouter bill, thicker-based bill, and shorter
legs. Note the nearly straight-sloping back down to wingtips
and tail. Breeding Easterns often have a pinkish base to the
bill. Adult birds like this in worn alternate plumage vacate the
region by the end of July. Photo by Cin-Ty Lee
15 July 2007 - Galveston, TX
Note, shorter and stouter bill, thicker-based bill, and shorter
legs. Note the nearly straight-sloping back down to wingtips
and tail. Breeding Easterns often have a pinkish base to the
bill. Adult birds like this in worn alternate plumage vacate the
region by the end of July. Photo by Cin-Ty Lee
Western Willet
Eastern Willet
Western Willet (1st summer in basic plumage)
15 July 2007 - Bolivar Flats, TX
This bird is typical of first summer birds that stay the entire
summer along the Gulf Coast. They are indistinguishable
from winter-plumaged adults. Distinguishing features are the
thin, straight and long bill, long legs, and humped back. Note
also that the primaries hardly extend beyond the last tertial
and tail. While primary extension is variable in Willets,
Easterns are usually not as short. Photo by Cin-Ty Lee
15 July 2007 - Bolivar Flats, TX
This bird is typical of first summer birds that stay the entire
summer along the Gulf Coast. They are indistinguishable
from winter-plumaged adults. Distinguishing features are the
thin, straight and long bill, long legs, and humped back. Note
also that the primaries hardly extend beyond the last tertial
and tail. While primary extension is variable in Willets,
Easterns are usually not as short. Photo by Cin-Ty Lee
Western Willets (worn alternate adults and 1 first summer)
15 July 2007 - Bolivar, TX
From left to right are a first summer bird in basic plumage and
two worn alternate adult Western Willets. The winter
plumaged looking bird had summered here while the two
alternate-adults just arrived from their breeding grounds.
Photo by Cin-Ty Lee
15 July 2007 - Bolivar, TX
From left to right are a first summer bird in basic plumage and
two worn alternate adult Western Willets. The winter
plumaged looking bird had summered here while the two
alternate-adults just arrived from their breeding grounds.
Photo by Cin-Ty Lee
Western Willets (worn alternate adults)
15 July 2007 - Bolivar, TX
Two worn alternate Western Willets. Note how small the front
individual is, illustrating the strong sexual dimporphism in
Western Willets. Males, like this one, can be quite small and
overlap in size with Eastern Willets. Distinguishing features
are the long, thin and straight bill, long legs, and humped
back. Note that primary extension is different on these two
Westerns, illustrating the variability in this feature. Photo by
Cin-Ty Lee
15 July 2007 - Bolivar, TX
Two worn alternate Western Willets. Note how small the front
individual is, illustrating the strong sexual dimporphism in
Western Willets. Males, like this one, can be quite small and
overlap in size with Eastern Willets. Distinguishing features
are the long, thin and straight bill, long legs, and humped
back. Note that primary extension is different on these two
Westerns, illustrating the variability in this feature. Photo by
Cin-Ty Lee
Eastern Willet (juvenile)
4 July 2006 - Bolivar Flats, TX
Note broad, immaculate pale fringes on mantle feathers and
scapulars, which is typical of juvenal plumages. Thick based
and short bill along with straight-sloping back distinguish this
bird as an Eastern Willet. Legs appear longer than normal,
but note that the upper and lower tarsi are of roughly equal
length. Photo by Cin-Ty Lee
4 July 2006 - Bolivar Flats, TX
Note broad, immaculate pale fringes on mantle feathers and
scapulars, which is typical of juvenal plumages. Thick based
and short bill along with straight-sloping back distinguish this
bird as an Eastern Willet. Legs appear longer than normal,
but note that the upper and lower tarsi are of roughly equal
length. Photo by Cin-Ty Lee
Western Willet (worn alternate adult)
30 July, 2006 - Ventura, California
Distinguishing features are long, thin and straight bill, long
legs, and humped appearance. This bird is already molting
into winter plumage. Photo by Cin-Ty Lee.
30 July, 2006 - Ventura, California
Distinguishing features are long, thin and straight bill, long
legs, and humped appearance. This bird is already molting
into winter plumage. Photo by Cin-Ty Lee.
Eastern & Western Willets
22 July 2007 - Bolivar, TX
Eastern Willet (LEFT) in worn-alternate plumage; Western
Willet (RIGHT) in basic plumage (first summer bird). Note
differences in bill size, shape and length. Western is slightly
larger than Eastern. Note also that the Western has longer
legs, more humped back, etc. Photo by Cin-Ty Lee
22 July 2007 - Bolivar, TX
Eastern Willet (LEFT) in worn-alternate plumage; Western
Willet (RIGHT) in basic plumage (first summer bird). Note
differences in bill size, shape and length. Western is slightly
larger than Eastern. Note also that the Western has longer
legs, more humped back, etc. Photo by Cin-Ty Lee
Western Willet (juvenile)
17 Aug, 2005 - Bolivar, TX
Distinguishing features are long, thin and straight bill, long
legs, and humped appearance. Photo by Yamamoto
17 Aug, 2005 - Bolivar, TX
Distinguishing features are long, thin and straight bill, long
legs, and humped appearance. Photo by Yamamoto
Eastern & Western Willets
4 May 2008 - Bolivar, TX
Eastern Willet (foreground) in breeding plumage with winter
plumage Western Willets in background. Note stout-based bill
Photo by Cin-Ty Lee
4 May 2008 - Bolivar, TX
Eastern Willet (foreground) in breeding plumage with winter
plumage Western Willets in background. Note stout-based bill
Photo by Cin-Ty Lee
Western Willet flying
4 May 2008 - Bolivar, TX
Note less contrast between back and white rump. Less white
in wing than in Eastern. Photo by Lee
4 May 2008 - Bolivar, TX
Note less contrast between back and white rump. Less white
in wing than in Eastern. Photo by Lee
Eastern Willet flying
4 May 2008 - Bolivar, TX
Darker back. More white in wings. Photo by Lee
4 May 2008 - Bolivar, TX
Darker back. More white in wings. Photo by Lee