Willet
The bird I’m describing and showing in photographs today is a quite common wading bird at Florida tropical beaches. That’s were these pictures where shot.
The Willet is a large shorebird in the sandpiper family. It is a good-sized and stout the largest of the shanks.
Willet
Adults have gray legs and a long, straight, dark and stout bill. The body is dark gray above and light underneath. The tail is white with a dark band at the end. The distinctive black and white pattern of the wings is a common sight along many North American coastal beaches.
They mainly eat insects, crustaceans and marine worms, but also eat some plant material.
Click on images to see enlargements
Text and photographs © H.J. Ruiz – Avian 101
H.J. Ruiz - Avian101 
What a lovely bird and a lovely name – how is it pronounced?
willet |ˈwilit|
noun ( pl. same or willets )
a large North American sandpiper.
Thanks – I thought it might be willay
Great pictures, HJ. We occasionally get a Willet or two up here in Chicago, although not that often. I have seen them mostly in other countries.
Thanks Lisa for your sharing and comment! 🙂
Great Photos H.J.! I just took a photo of this bird 2 days ago but couldn’t identify it. Yesterday I spent about an hour looking it up and finally realized it was a Willet. If I had of just waited for your post today I would have saved myself a lot of time lol :O)
You didn’t waste any time because it made you do some research which is the way to learn. 🙂
Oh you are right H.J. LOL ;0)
fantastic shots… love the colortones in these photos!
That’s the magic of sunny Florida! 🙂
Wish I was at the beach, working on my blog! 😉
Oh yes! That sounds great! 🙂
Lovely photos HJ! I’m looking forward to seeing Willets on my trip next week.
Thank you, I’d like to see them when you come back! 🙂
Love the photos… Especially of the birds that aren’t nearly as common up in my neck of the woods! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you Derrick! 🙂