Solitary Sandpiper Early Reproductive Behavior

THE Solitary Sandpiper (Tringa solitaria) is among the least known of Nearctic birds, primarily because of its inaccessibility during the breeding season. The species nests about muskeg and woodland pools using old nests of such passeriform species as the Rusty Blackbird (Euphagus carolinus), Robin (Turdus migratorius), Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula), Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum), Bohemian Waxwing (B. garrulus), Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus), and Gray Jay (Perisoreus canadensis). It is not known if they ever preempt nests, but at least occasionally they use freshly made nests (D. F. Parmelee, pers. comm.). Eggs have been found from 1.2-12 m above the ground and from the shoreline to 200 m away, usually in conifers but sometimes in deciduous trees (Henderson 1923, Street 1923, Bent, 1929, Sutton in Bannerman 1958) and rarely (perhaps) in cattail (Todd 1963). T. solitaria is also known to be solitary and, perhaps, territorial year-round; and does not migrate in flocks as do most waders (Hudson 1920, Todd and Carriker 1922, Wetmore 1926, Sutton in Bannerman 1958). This unique combination of solitary and arboreal habits makes solitaria of special interest, and the paucity of information concerning Solitary Sandpiper behavior leads me to present my data despite their preliminary nature. I published data on acoustical behavior separately (Oring, 1968).