willet
1. Bird Name
English: Willet
Scientific: Tringa semipalmata
2. Appearance
The Willet exhibits a mostly gray and white coloration, which makes it easy to blend into its coastal surroundings. Its upper body and wings are gray and covered in attractive brown streaks. The belly and underside are usually white, with gray or black streaking on the flanks and lower belly. During flight, you can easily identify a Willet by its conspicuous black-and-white wing pattern. It features medium-sized dark bills which are slightly upturned and straight. Its eyes are usually dark brown, surrounded by a thin white eye ring. Both sexes have similar appearances making it tough to differentiate between males and females based on appearance alone.
3. Size
The Willet typically reaches lengths between 33 to 40cm (13 to 15.7 inches). Its wingspan can range from 70 to 80cm (27.5 to 31.5 inches), with a weight range between 150 to 300 grams.
4. Habitat & Distribution
The Willet has a widespread distribution across North and South America. It can mostly be found in coastal areas such as beaches and marshes but is also found inland near freshwater bodies. It prefers sandy or muddy substrates where it can forage for food.
5. Interesting Facts
One unique fact about the Willet is its territorial behavior during the breeding season. They are known to aggressively defend their territory, even against larger predators.
The Willets are also long-distance migrants traveling thousands of kilometers between breeding and wintering areas. They breed in North America and migrate southwards to Central and South America for wintering.
Their call is distinctive, their name Willet is derived from their loud call, a piercing “pill-will-willet” or a sharp “kleep”.
6. Diet
Willets have a varied diet that includes insects, aquatic invertebrates such as crabs and mollusks, and small fish. They use their long bills to probe into the sand or mud for food.
7. Behavior & Sounds
Verbal communication by Willets is quite distinctive, often heard before the bird is sighted. They produce a ringing “pill-will-willet” call, accompanied by a distinctive wing-beating display in flight, especially during the breeding season.
They are known for their aggressive behavior when protecting their nests and chicks against predators or intruders.
8. Conservation Status
According to the IUCN Red List, the Willet is classified as “Least Concern” due to its extensive range and abundant population.
9. Lifespan
Willet’s average lifespan in the wild is up to 10 years, but some have been recorded to live up to 15 years.
10. Additional Notes
In Spanish, the Willet is known as “Playero Aliblanco”. Locals appreciate their presence due to their insect-feeding habits, as they help control insect populations. Willets are critical contributors to maintaining the ecological balance in their habitats due to their middle-link role in the food chain, serving as prey to larger carnivores and controlling the population of their prey, thereby maintaining the biodiversity of their habitats.
