willet

The willet is a large shorebird found in North and South America. There are two distinct subspecies, the eastern willet (Tringa semipalmata) and the western willet (Tringa semipalmata inornata), which differ slightly in size and coloration. Eastern willets are generally larger and paler, while western willets are smaller and darker. Both subspecies share a distinctive thick, straight bill and prominent white wing bars visible in flight.

Willets inhabit a variety of coastal environments, including salt marshes, mudflats, sandy beaches, and estuaries. They are migratory birds, with northern populations moving south for the winter. Their diet consists primarily of crustaceans, mollusks, insects, and small fish, which they forage for by probing the mud and sand with their bills.

During the breeding season, willets are known for their loud, distinctive calls, often described as a rapid, repeated "pill-will-willet." They nest on the ground, typically in dense vegetation near the water. Both parents share incubation and chick-rearing duties. Willets are a common sight along North American coastlines and are often observed in flocks, especially outside the breeding season. Their presence is an indicator of healthy coastal wetland ecosystems.