Wandering tattler facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wandering tattler |
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Heteractitis incanus |
The wandering tattler (Tringa incana) is a medium-sized bird that loves to wade in water. It looks a lot like its cousin, the gray-tailed tattler. These birds are special because their wings and backs are plain gray. They also have a cool scaly pattern on their chest. This pattern can even go down to their belly when they are ready to breed. They also have a clear stripe above their eye.
Appearance
Wandering tattlers have strong bodies. Their upper parts, underwings, face, and neck are gray. Their belly is white. They have short, dark yellow legs. Their bill is dark gray. When they are ready to breed, their underside has many dark bars.
Habitat and Travel
In the summer, you can find these birds in far-eastern Russia, Alaska, and parts of California and northwestern Canada. They build their nests in rocky areas. These areas are usually along mountain streams.
At other times, they travel to rocky islands in the southwest Pacific. They also live on rocky Pacific coasts. You can find them from California all the way to South America and even Australia.
What They Eat
Wandering tattlers mostly eat small animals that live in water. These include crustaceans like crabs and shrimp. They also eat marine worms. During the breeding season, they add insects to their diet.
When they are looking for food in the water, they move very actively. They often make quick, bobbing movements. They might even fly low over a rocky coastline or a jetty. Sometimes, they return to the same spot to find more food.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
The female wandering tattler lays four olive-colored eggs. She lays them in a shallow dip on the ground. Both the mother and father bird take turns sitting on the eggs to keep them warm. They also both help feed their young. The baby birds learn to find their own food very quickly.
Bird Call
The call of the wandering tattler is a fast, trilling sound. It gets faster and goes down in pitch. The sound also gets quieter as it goes on.
See also
In Spanish: Playero de Alaska para niños
