Wandering Tattler (Kluane National Park and Reserve of Canada | Parc national et réserve de parc national du Canada Kluane)

Wandering Tattler

Tringa incana

Diagnostic description ³

Short yellow legs and dark grey UpP. Very similar to H.brevipes, but slightly darker, with longer wings, broader, more extensive dark barring on underparts including central central UnT-C, distinctive flight call is rippling trill of ten notes. Female averages larger. Non-breeding adults has plain dark grey UpP, neck, breast and flanks, supercilium only clear above lores. Juvenile as non-breeding adult, but with pale fringes to feather of UpP.

Ecology ⁴

This tame shorebird breeds above timberline in Alaska, and much is still unknown about its breeding behavior (first nest was discovered in 1922). This species is better known on its coastal wintering grounds, where it was discovered more than two centuries ago.

Wandering Tattlers are basically solitary throughout their annual cycle. Associated with mountain streams and gravel bars within their breeding range, they bob and teeter while feeding and probe the water surface for insect prey, especially aquatic invertebrates (Johnsgard 1981). The Wandering Tattler's primary call is a series of clear, rippling whistles, all on one pitch (Gill et al. 2002).

In Alaska, possible predators to adult birds include Rough-legged Hawks (Buteo lagopus) and Peregrine Falcons (Falco peregrinus), and arctic ground squirrels (Spermophilus parryii) are known egg/nestling predators to co-occurring Surfbirds (Aphorize vibrate) (Gill et al. 2002). Observed responses to predators include alarm calls and freezing in one place where coloration makes birds difficult to distinguish from background; young chicks may crouch motionless or flee intruders to the brood vicinity (Gill et al. 2002).

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Range Map

iNaturalist.ca Map

Animal	Bird
Color	grey, yellow
Bird	Shorebirds (Charadriiformes)

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