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Tringa incana

(Gmelin, 1789)

Wandering Tattler

G4Apparently Secure (G4G5) Found in 10 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G4Apparently SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.104652
Element CodeABNNF03010
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassAves
OrderCharadriiformes
FamilyScolopacidae
GenusTringa
Synonyms
Heteroscelus incanus(Gmelin, 1789)
Other Common Names
Chevalier errant (FR) Playero Vagabundo, Playero Gris (ES)
Concept Reference
American Ornithologists' Union (AOU). 1998. Check-list of North American birds. Seventh edition. American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C. [as modified by subsequent supplements and corrections published in The Auk]. Also available online: http://www.aou.org/.
Taxonomic Comments
Tringa incana and T. brevipes were formerly placed in the genus Heteroscelus (AOU 1998).

Originally described as Scolopax incana (Gmelin, 1789). Previously placed in genera Totanus, Heteractitis, and Actitis.
Conservation Status
Rank MethodExpertise without calculation
Review Date2016-04-10
Change Date2016-04-10
Edition Date2008-01-15
Edition AuthorsGotthardt, T. A. Reviewed by Robert E. Gill, U.S. Geological Survey, Anchorage, Alaska.
Range Extent200,000 to >2,500,000 square km (about 80,000 to >1,000,000 square miles)
Rank Reasons
World population may be as small as 10,000, making this one of North America's least numerous shorebird species. Listed by the U. S. Shorebird Conservation Plan as highly imperiled with regard to its relative abundance; population trends and breeding distribution are of moderate concern (Brown et al. 2001).
Range Extent Comments
Breeding range encompasses western, central and south-coastal Alaska, central and southern Yukon, northwestern British Columbia, and northeastern Siberia and Chukotka. The majority (more than 90 percent) of the population breeds in North America (Gill et al. 2002).

During the nonbreeding season, the species occurs mainly in Oceania from the Hawaiian Islands south through east and central Polynesia, also in Micronesia; it is present but not common in southern Melanesia and west to New Guinea, Australia, New Zealand and Japan (Gill et al. 2002). It also winters along the Pacific coast of North America mainly from southern California south to Revillagigedo Islands and coastal Mexico, and locally to Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Peru, Galapagos Islands, and Ecuador. A significant portion of the population remains on the nonbreeding grounds for at least one year.
Ecology & Habitat

Description

A medium-sized sandpiper with long wings and tail, relatively short but thick legs, and medium-length straight bill. Uniform gray above, with whitish eyebrow, dark rump and tail, and greenish-yellow legs. Breeding birds have heavily barred underparts. Nonbreeding birds whitish below, with a gray wash on sides and flanks (Gill et al. 2002).

Habitat

Breeding: Mostly restricted to the alpine zone, usually breeds along rocky or scrubby vegetated edges of mountain streams and lakes; frequents rapidly-flowing streams and tundra habitats, wet meadows, moraine deposits, scree slopes, braided rivers, sometimes found in forest clearings away from water. Often nests on the ground in a rocky or gravelly site; in Prince William Sound, Alaska, known to nest above tide line on gravel areas of the immediate coast, and also commonly observed nesting on/near sparsely vegetated tailing piles in areas of old placer mining activity (Weeden 1965, Johnsgard 1981, Weeden 1959 in Gill et al. 2002). Nests also observed in dwarf shrub tundra near streams or lakes (Spindler et al. 1980, Gill et al. 2002).

Non-breeding: Mainly rocky shores and islands, also sandy island beaches along coast, sometimes on mudflats and along rocky streams. Occasionally found on freshwater impoundments near coast and on estuarine substrates (Gill et al. 2002).

Ecology

This tame shorebird breeds above timberline in Alaska, and much is still unknown about its breeding behavior (first nest was discovered in 1922). This species is better known on its coastal wintering grounds, where it was discovered more than two centuries ago.

Wandering Tattlers are basically solitary throughout their annual cycle. Associated with mountain streams and gravel bars within their breeding range, they bob and teeter while feeding and probe the water surface for insect prey, especially aquatic invertebrates (Johnsgard 1981). The Wandering Tattler's primary call is a series of clear, rippling whistles, all on one pitch (Gill et al. 2002).

In Alaska, possible predators to adult birds include Rough-legged Hawks (Buteo lagopus) and Peregrine Falcons (Falco peregrinus), and arctic ground squirrels (Spermophilus parryii) are known egg/nestling predators to co-occurring Surfbirds (Aphorize vibrate) (Gill et al. 2002). Observed responses to predators include alarm calls and freezing in one place where coloration makes birds difficult to distinguish from background; young chicks may crouch motionless or flee intruders to the brood vicinity (Gill et al. 2002).

Reproduction

Arrival and pairing on northern breeding grounds occurs from mid-May to early June, with males generally preceding females in arrival (Gill et al. 2002). Single clutch laid per season (no evidence of second broods although replacement clutch likely if initial clutch is lost early in incubation), usually 4 eggs laid in late May-early June; incubated by both sexes for 23-25 days (Weeden 1965). Hatching recorded in Alaska from June 24-July 11 (1999); precocial nestlings are tended by both parents (Gill et al. 2002).
Terrestrial Habitats
Grassland/herbaceousAlpineTundraSand/duneBare rock/talus/scree
Palustrine Habitats
Riparian
Other Nations (2)
United StatesN4B,N4N
ProvinceRankNative
WashingtonS3NYes
HawaiiSNRNYes
OregonSNAYes
CaliforniaSNRNYes
AlaskaS4BYes
CanadaN3B
ProvinceRankNative
Yukon TerritoryS3BYes
British ColumbiaS3BYes
Northwest TerritoriesSUYes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
11 - Climate change & severe weatherPervasive (71-100%)UnknownLow (long-term)
11.1 - Habitat shifting & alterationPervasive (71-100%)UnknownLow (long-term)

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Roadless Areas (10)
Alaska (10)
AreaForestAcres
Boston BarChugach National Forest53,617
Kenai LakeChugach National Forest213,172
MadanTongass National Forest68,553
Middle KruzofTongass National Forest14,724
RedoubtTongass National Forest68,347
ResurrectionChugach National Forest224,615
South KruzofTongass National Forest55,193
Twenty MileChugach National Forest198,775
Upper SitukTongass National Forest16,789
Yakutat ForelandsTongass National Forest323,648
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