Willet

Tringa semipalmata (Gmelin, JF, 1789)

31–41 cmLength246 gWeight

The saltmarsh willet or willet (Tringa semipalmata) is a large shorebird in the family Scolopacidae.

Busiest months: April–May · Most records: United States, Canada, Mexico

Least Concern

Where and when it's recorded

Busiest months: April–May · Most records: United States, Canada, Mexico

Willet has been recorded at 889 of the 8,276 birding hotspots we track, in 51 countries and regions.

Records by month Northern Hemisphere

Where it's recorded most

Fort De Soto ParkUnited States18,997 records
Parker River NWRUnited States12,825 records
Bolsa Chica Ecological ReserveUnited States12,233 records

More places

San Diego River mudflatsUnited States11,658 records
Edwin B. Forsythe NWRUnited States9,794 records
South Padre Is. – WBC/Conv. Center/Laguna Madre TrailUnited States8,717 records
South Padre Is. – Birding and Nature CenterUnited States8,429 records
Moss Landing – Jetty Road, north jetty & State BeachUnited States8,188 records
Bolivar Flats Shorebird SanctuaryUnited States7,985 records
J. N. Ding Darling NWR – Wildlife DriveUnited States7,725 records

Countries and regions with the most records

United States Canada Mexico Costa Rica Panama Chile Belize Colombia

eBird records via GBIF up to 2024-12-31. A record means someone listed it; more records partly mean more birders, not more birds.

About

The saltmarsh willet or willet (Tringa semipalmata) is a large shorebird in the family Scolopacidae. It is a relatively large and robust sandpiper and is the largest of the species called "shanks" in the genus Tringa. Its closest relative is the lesser yellowlegs, a much smaller bird with a very different appearance apart from the fine, clear, and dense pattern of the neck, which both species show in breeding plumage.

Excerpt from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0 · authors · Read more on Wikipedia

Questions

How big is the Willet?

The Willet is about 31–41 cm long and weighs around 246 g.

Where does the Willet live?

Its breeding range: North America: temperate zone prairie wetlands and coastal saltmarshes of west-central, eastern, southeastern Canada and USA: inland central Alberta to southwestern Manitoba, south to northeastern California and northern Nebraska; coastal Newfoundland to Florida and Gulf of Mexico south to Tamaulipas; Bahamas, most Greater Antilles, scattered islands elsewhere in Caribbean including Los Roques (north of Venezuela). It is most often recorded in United States, Canada and Mexico.

When is the best time to see the Willet?

At the hotspots we track, it is recorded most in April and May (Northern Hemisphere).

Is the Willet endangered?

The IUCN Red List classifies the Willet as Least Concern.

What does the Willet eat?

Main food: Fish, shrimp & shellfish.

What family is the Willet in?

It belongs to the family Sandpipers, Snipes (Scolopacidae), order Charadriiformes.

At a glance

Length: 31–41 cm
Weight: 246 g
Habitat: Coast & tidal flats
Diet: Fish, shrimp & shellfish
Lifestyle: Active on the ground
Migration: Migratory
Conservation: Least Concern

More measurements

Wing: 204 mm
Tail: 74 mm
Bill: 67 mm
Tarsus: 65 mm

Averages from the AVONET dataset; length from field guides where available.

Range

North America: temperate zone prairie wetlands and coastal saltmarshes of west-central, eastern, southeastern Canada and USA: inland central Alberta to southwestern Manitoba, south to northeastern California and northern Nebraska; coastal Newfoundland to Florida and Gulf of Mexico south to Tamaulipas; Bahamas, most Greater Antilles, scattered islands elsewhere in Caribbean including Los Roques (north of Venezuela)

Breeding range, IOC World Bird List 15.2