Willet
Tringa semipalmata
Also known as: Semipalmated Snipe
About This Species
Look for a large, plain grey-brown shorebird on salt marshes, mudflats and beaches, distinguished in flight by a bold black-and-white wing pattern that is easy to miss when the bird is standing still. It is notably vocal near breeding sites, giving a loud, ringing call when alarmed or defending territory. Breeding season brings the most activity and vocal display, while migration periods offer chances to see it at coastal stopover sites.
Ethical Viewing Guidelines
- Keep well back from marsh and beach areas where willets are displaying or appear agitated, since this usually indicates a nearby nest or chicks.
- Shorebirds and their habitats are protected under wildlife law across much of this species' range, though specific rules and enforcement vary by country.
- Walking around rather than through a marsh, and avoiding peak nesting weeks, is the simplest way to reduce disturbance.
LCAvesCharadriiformesScolopacidae
Seasonal Activity
1,962,752 sightings · 2000–2026
Citizen science records via GBIF
All monthsThis month
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Aves
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Family
- Scolopacidae
Photo
(c) Miguel A Mejias, PhD., some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Miguel A Mejias, PhD.
CC-BY-NC-4.0
Occurrence data from GBIF.