Willet

Tringa semipalmata

Willets are common along the Southern California coastline in winter. Tall, and dressed in inconspicuous dove gray, they usually forage in solitude, probing the mud for crabs, worms, and other tidbits with the sensitive tips of their bills. If startled, a Willet will react with a screeching “kerrRak, kerrRAK, kerrRak,” and spread its wings to reveal a bold black-and-white pattern.

Fun Fact:
This drab shorebird is suddenly eye-catching when it takes flight and reveals the flashy black and white pattern on its wings.

What’s for Lunch:
Little crabs and molluscs

Where’s Home:
Marshes and mudflats in winter; nests in interior marshes