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Gray-tailed Tattler

Tringa brevipesOrder: CHARADRIIFORMESFamily: Sandpipers (Scolopacidae)

Breeding Location:

Rocky places, Rivers



Breeding Type:

Monogamous, Loose colonies



Breeding Population:

Uncommon to rare



Egg Color:

Light blue with black speckles



Number of Eggs:

4



Incubation Days:

23 - 25



Egg Incubator:

Both sexes



Nest Material:

No material added to nest.



Migration:

Migratory



Splitbar

Overview

Gray-tailed Tattler: Medium sandpiper with gray upperparts and cap, white eyebrow and throat, gray streaked breast, and pale gray underparts. Wings and tail are dark. Legs and feet are yellow. Eats insects and larvae, picks up food in sand and water. Direct flight, quick wing beats.

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.

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Family Sandpiper (Scolopacidae)_blue
Species Tringa brevipes
Length10 Inches
Wingspan20 Inches

Gray-tailed Tattler

Gray-tailed Tattler: Medium sandpiper with gray upperparts and cap, white eyebrow and throat, gray streaked breast, and pale gray underparts. Wings and tail are dark. Legs and feet are yellow. Eats insects and larvae, picks up food in sand and water. Direct flight, quick wing beats.

● Song: "tu-weeeeeet", "klee-klee"

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

● Breeding & 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.

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

Flight Pattern

Quick direct effortless flight with rapid flicking wing beats.
Gray-tailed Tattler Breeding Male Body Illustration
● Range & 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.
BreedingMonogamous, Loose colonies
PopulationUncommon to rare
MigrationMigratory
Weight3.8 Ounces