Willet
The 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. It breeds in North America and the West Indies and winters in southern North America, Central America, the West Indies and South America. The willet is an inelegant and heavily built shorebird with a structure similar to that of the common redshank but being larger in size than the greater yellowlegs while resembling a godwit in flight with black primary coverts and primaries contrasting with a broad white band, white secondaries with a white rump and gray tail band. With its reclassification into the Tringa genus, it stands as the largest species in this prominent sandpiper genus. It is 31–41 cm (12–16 in) in overall length and weighs 200–330 g (7.1–11.6 oz). The sexes are similar in plumage but the female is slightly larger.
Photo Gallery
HJ Ruiz – October 27th, 2023
H.J. Ruiz - Avian101 
Wonderful to see these willet photos, H.J. Those first two with the shallow water and shadows are especially fine.
Thank you, Jet for your nice comments! 🙂
And the big mystery is why have only a couple of willet ever crossed the Atlantic ? Perhaps people can’t pick them out of the crowd.
Things happen like that, Nature knows how to do it! Thanks, John… Good question… 🙂
Looks like they’re really enjoying themselves on a lovely day!
They are! They have so much fun pecking here and there… Thank you Carol! 🙂